The U.S. Coast Guard is “actively pursuing” a sanctioned vessel in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, two U.S. officials familiar with the situation told NBC News.
“The US Coast Guard is actively pursuing a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion. It is flying a false flag and is under judicial arrest,” one of the officials said.
The vessel, known as Bella 1, was added to the U.S. sanctions list in June 2024, a person familiar with the list said.
According to the source, the ship was subject to sanctions by the anti-terrorism agency for its participation in the network of the Houthi financial intermediary Saeed al-Jamal.
Vessels from the shadow fleet usually do not operate exclusively in one country, the source added.
If it is caught, it will be the third ship intercepted by the United States in the Caribbean. On Saturday the Pentagon banned second tanker which the White House said was carrying sanctioned oil.
Earlier this month, the first sanctioned vessel, known as Skipper, was seized off the coast of Venezuela.
Earlier Saturday, two U.S. officials told NBC News that the Coast Guard was conducting an operation off the coast of Venezuela. The operation was the first Reuters reports this.
Tensions between the United States and Venezuela are rising as the Trump administration strikes suspected drug ships in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
President Donald Trump didn't rule it out the possibility of war with Venezuela earlier this week.
