THE UNITED States has added new sanctions on six more ships that are thought to be moving Venezuelan oil, just a day after capturing an oil tanker near Venezuela's coast. The US has also targeted family members and business partners of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, claiming they support his "illegitimate regime."
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the seized ship, named Skipper, was involved in "illegal oil shipments" and will be brought to a US port.
Venezuela's government called the action "international piracy." The seizure shows a major increase in Washington's efforts to pressure Maduro.
In recent months, tensions in the region have risen, with US navy ships being more active and several deadly incidents involving ships believed to be carrying drugs from Venezuela.
The Trump administration keeps accusing Caracas of helping move narcotics into the United States, while Venezuela says Washington is trying to take control of its resources. Maduro said on Wednesday that his country will never become "a colony of the United States."
In a statement on Thursday, the White House stressed that the US is still determined to stop "illegal drug trafficking" and to apply sanctions against Maduro's government.
These latest actions show Washington's resolve to keep up the pressure before ongoing diplomatic and economic conflicts between the two countries continue.