US forces are pursuing an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela as part of an operation to seize it.
Bella 1 – one of dozens of ‘ghost ships’ under US sanctions for taking part in Iran’s oil trade – reportedly refused to be boarded and is trying to continue its journey.
Sanctions are also in place targeting Venezuela’s state-run oil company, affecting around 30 ships in Venezuelan waters or approaching the country.
Trump last week ordered a ‘total and complete blockade’ of these ships, and seized one earlier this month.
A second tanker was intercepted near Venezuelan waters on Saturday, called Centuries.
It is not on the sanctions list but was operating under a false flag and allegedly carrying sanctioned Venezuelan oil.
Later on Saturday, US forces approached Bella 1 but its crew did not stop for a boarding manoeuvre and kept sailing, according to US officials who spoke to the New York Times and CNN anonymously.
The US Coast Guard continued to pursue the tanker on Sunday and into the early hours of Monday morning.
‘The United States Coast Guard is in active pursuit of a sanctioned “dark fleet” vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion,’ a US official said.
‘It is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order.’
US officials did not disclose the ship’s name or current location when asked.
It was identified in reports by a British maritime risk management firm called Vanguard and a US maritime security source.
Bella 1, which was added to the sanctions list last year, was empty when it was approaching Venezuela.
Leaked Venezuelan documents previously confirmed it transporter Venezuelan oil to China in 2021.
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