A tanker travels off the coast of Venezuela, where authorities insist its oil sector would keep going regardless of whether the United States imposes sanctions.
AFP
The United States has sought court warrants to seize dozens more oil tankers linked to Venezuela's crude trade, according to four sources familiar with the matter, as Washington moves to consolidate control over oil shipments entering and leaving the country, according to a new report by Reuters.
U.S. military and Coast Guard forces have already seized five vessels in recent weeks in international waters following a December blockade that sharply curtailed Venezuelan oil exports and culminated in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces on January 3.
The sources consulted by Reuters said the U.S. government has filed multiple civil forfeiture actions in district courts, mainly in Washington, D.C., enabling the seizure of both oil cargoes and ships involved in Venezuelan crude shipments. The exact number of warrants sought or granted remains unclear because the filings are not public, though the sources said dozens have been submitted.
The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The vessels already intercepted have been either under U.S. sanctions or part of a so-called shadow fleet of lightly regulated tankers used to move oil from sanctioned producers including Venezuela, Iran, and Russia. Many tankers carrying Venezuelan crude remain at sea, including vessels bound for China, the country's largest buyer. Several of those ships have been sanctioned by Washington.
U.S. action to seize vessels has paused since Friday, according to the sources, though enforcement could resume against ships or cargoes not authorized by Washington. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said on social media that U.S. forces would "hunt down and interdict ALL dark fleet vessels transporting Venezuelan oil at the time and place of our choosing."
Recent seizures mark an escalation from earlier U.S. actions against Iranian oil shipments, which generally targeted cargoes rather than vessels themselves, shipping industry sources said. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on January 7 that authorities were monitoring additional vessels for possible enforcement action following the seizure of the Bella-1 tanker, an empty, Russian-flagged ship.
Russia's Foreign Ministry criticized the seizures as an illegal use of force and said U.S. sanctions lack legal foundation. Oil shipments from Venezuela resumed this week under U.S. supervision, after the December blockade brought exports close to a standstill.
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China Condemns 'Arbitrary' U.S. Seizure of Russian-Flagged Tanker, Says It 'Seriously Violates International Law'
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Tags: Venezuela, Department of Justice, Russia, China, Iran, Trump administration
