US Coast Guard officials said on Sunday they were tracking an oil tanker near Venezuela in international waters. This marks the second pursuit this weekend and the third in one week in the Caribbean Sea. Officials described this as an “active pursuit” targeting a “sanctioned dark fleet vessel” involved in Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion. The ship, named Bella 1, has been under US sanctions since 2024 due to links with Iran and Hezbollah. The vessel was reportedly flying a false flag and under judicial seizure. According to US sources, the Bella 1 did not stop when approached late Saturday and continued sailing. The tanker was heading to Venezuela but had no cargo. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump recently declared a “blockade” on all sanctioned oil tankers going into or coming out of Venezuela. The US has increased its military presence and conducted over two dozen strikes on vessels near Venezuela, resulting in about 100 deaths. Kevin Hassett, White House national economic council director, told CBS News that seized ships were operating illegally and supplying oil to sanctioned countries, so US oil prices should not rise due to these seizures. However, an oil trader told Reuters that increased seizures could push oil prices higher when Asian markets open. US forces seized another oil vessel off Venezuela’s coast on Saturday. The action follows a tanker seizure on December 10. Both ships were headed to Asia. Republican Senator James Lankford said on CNN that he supports a US-backed regime change in Venezuela and does not consider Nicolás Maduro as Venezuela’s rightful leader. Maduro lost the 2024 election to Edmundo González. President Trump and advisers have not ruled out military action against Venezuela. Maduro has asked his navy to escort oil tankers, defying the largest US fleet presence in the region in decades. Venezuela called the first tanker seizure “an act of international piracy” and “blatant theft.” In a recent interview, Trump said, “I don’t rule out” war with Maduro’s regime. Reuters contributed reporting.