US Pursues Third Oil Tanker Linked to Venezuela
HereS a summary of the news article:
US coast Guard is pursuing a Venezuelan oil tanker, the Bella 1, in international waters. This follows the recent seizure of two other tankers this month.
Key points:
* Sanctions Evasion: The bella 1 is described as part of Venezuela’s effort to evade sanctions, flying a false flag and operating under a judicial seizure order.
* Previous Sanctions: The US Treasury Department previously sanctioned the Bella 1 last year, alleging it carried sanctioned cargo and had links to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
* Flight from Boarding: The tanker reportedly did not allow the Coast Guard to board and fled northeast into the Atlantic Ocean.
* Distress Signals: BBC Verify analyzed 50 distress signals from the Bella 1, indicating it traveled at around 10 knots while being pursued.
* Venezuela’s Response: Venezuela has labeled the tanker seizures as “piracy.”
* Earlier Seizures: The US Coast Guard previously seized the Skipper on December 10th, alleging it transported sanctioned oil to Iran.
The situation highlights escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela regarding oil trade and sanctions enforcement.