US seizes second oil tanker off Venezuela's coast
The US has seized an oil tanker that had recently departed from Venezuela, according to the US Department of Homeland Security.
It is the second time this month that the US has seized an oil-carrying ship off the country's coast. The move comes after US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he was ordering a "blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
Venezuela has condemned the latest US seizure, describing it as "theft and kidnapping". Venezuela has previously accused the US of trying to steal its resources.
"These acts will not go unpunished," a statement from the Venezuelan government said, adding that it intends to file a complaint with the UN Security Council and "other multilateral agencies and the governments of the world".
The operation was led by the US Coast Guard, similar to the operation earlier this month. The ship was boarded by a specialised tactical team, and was in international waters when it was taken.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose department oversees the Coast Guard, shared a video of the operation on X. "In a pre-dawn action early this morning on Dec 20, the US Coast Guard with the support of the Department of War apprehended an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela," Noem wrote.
She posted a seven-minute video of the operation, which shows US helicopters landing on the deck of a ship with the name Centuries written on the side.
"The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region," Noem wrote, adding: "We will find you, and we will stop you." FULL ARTICLE AT: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0mpy1ynnzzo
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