The Panamanian-flagged vessel, known as Bella 1, was heading toward Venezuela to load oil, according to sources familiar with the incident, when the U.S. military and Coast Guard began pursuing the vessel.
On Saturday, the US military and Coast Guard boarded the oil tanker Centuries in waters near Venezuela. On December 10, the ship Skipper was seized by the US.
US President Donald Trump has intensified an oil embargo against Venezuela and its leader Nicolás Maduro. Washington's unilateral decision is a clear attempt to isolate the Venezuelan regime and its authoritarian leader.
The White House has not commented on the latest events, and the sources asked to remain anonymous because they are not authorized to speak publicly. Saturday's boarding was only confirmed several hours later by US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
Venezuela's government revenues rely heavily on oil exports, which are controlled by state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA). Previous boardings have been condemned by Venezuela, which calls them "piracy."
