The US has seized a sanctioned vessel in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, US officials have reported.
This marks the second incident of vessel seizure this month, following President Donald Trump's directive for a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers heading in and out of Venezuela.
Venezuela has yet to respond to the latest US action but has previously accused the US of attempting to steal its oil resources.
The operation was led by the US Coast Guard, similar to the previous one earlier this month. A specialised tactical team boarded the ship.
The US military's increased presence in the Caribbean has included deadly strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats, reportedly resulting in around 100 casualties. However, the US has provided no publicly available evidence to back claims of drug trafficking.
Accusations by the Trump administration against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro include leading a terrorist organization known as Cartel de los Soles, which Maduro denies. The administration claims that he and his associates are using 'stolen' Venezuela oil to fund a variety of illicit activities.
Venezuela, which possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, faces critical challenges due to its reliance on oil revenues for government financing.
Trump's blockade announcement arrived shortly after the US seized an oil tanker part of what is presumed to be a 'ghost fleet' that concealed its operations. The White House has indicated the seized vessel, identified as the Skipper, was involved in 'illicit oil shipping' and will be brought to a US port.
In response, Maduro criticized the seizure, claiming that the US had 'kidnapped the crew' and 'stolen' the ship.
This breaking news story is being updated, and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
