The United States Detains Another Oil Tanker Off the Coast of Venezuela

SadaNews - The United States has detained an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, as announced by U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristjen Nielsen, in a post on the "X" platform.

Nielsen stated, "The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund drug terrorism in the region."

She clarified that the U.S. Coast Guard seized the ship before dawn, with the support of the U.S. Department of Defense.

The minister posted a video of the tanker’s seizure on the "X" platform.

This detention occurs amid intensified pressures by President Donald Trump's administration on Venezuela, imposing an oil blockade.

Last week, U.S. forces seized the first oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, an act condemned by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who described it as "piracy."

The new ship, flying the Panamanian flag, was transporting Venezuelan oil, according to the "New York Times."

Trump announced earlier this week a "comprehensive blockade" on oil tankers subject to U.S. sanctions sailing to and from Venezuela.

He stated in an interview aired on Friday that he does not rule out the possibility of war against Venezuela.

The United States accuses Maduro of leading a drug trafficking network, which he denies, and has intensified economic and military measures to pressure Caracas.

Washington has deployed a significant military force in the region and has carried out a series of strike operations targeting boats suspected of belonging to drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific regions.