US pursuing third oil tanker linked to Venezuela, official says

The US Coast Guard is pursuing a sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, believed to be part of Venezuela’s “dark fleet” evading sanctions. The vessel, identified as Bella 1, is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order. This follows the seizure of two other tankers, Centuries and Skipper, in recent weeks, as part of the Trump administration’s pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

The US has accused Venezuela of operating a “shadow fleet” to traffic stolen oil, with Trump announcing a “blockade” against oil tankers traveling to or from Venezuela. Maduro has denounced the actions as “international piracy,” while US lawmakers have expressed concerns about the use of military force without congressional approval ¹ ² ⁴.

The seizures have sparked debate, with some arguing they could escalate tensions, while others see them as necessary to curb Venezuela’s alleged involvement in drug trafficking and sanctions evasion.