WASHINGTON/CARACAS - The US administration of Donald Trump has filed court warrants targeting oil tankers in links with Venezuela, according to media reports on Tuesday.
The US government has filed multiple civil forfeiture actions through federal courts in efforts to seize and confiscate oil cargo and vessels involved in the US-sanctioned Venezuelan trade, Reuters reported.
It remained unclear how many seizure warrants the United States is seeking.
The Pentagon said on Friday that it "will hunt down and interdict ALL dark fleet vessels transporting Venezuelan oil at the time and place of our choosing."
Trump announced the United States would control Venezuela's oil resources after the Pentagon launched a large-scale strike in the oil-rich South American nation and seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Jan 3. Maduro is now in custody in New York to stand trial on drug charges.
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US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said last week that the United States will not only market stored oil in Venezuela but also control the sales of oil output from the country indefinitely.
The US forces have seized five oil tankers linked with Venezuela since December.
Envoy to Washington
Meanwhile, Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez is planning to send an envoy to Washington this week as the Trump administration is weighing the possibility to reopen its embassy in the oil-rich South American nation, according to a Bloomberg report on Tuesday.
Felix Plasencia, Venezuelan ambassador to Britain and former foreign minister, is planning to meet US senior officials in Washington at Rodriguez's behest, said the report, citing people familiar with the plans.
Over 7 tons of drugs seized in Venezuela
Separately, Venezuela has seized more than 7 tons of illicit drugs so far this year, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said Tuesday, refuting the accusation that Venezuela facilitates drug trafficking.
"We have seized 7,148 kg of drugs this year, and we are just getting started," Cabello said at a press conference, referring to "Operation Soledad", which was recently carried out in Ciudad Bolivar in southern Bolivar state.
In addition to dealing a "major blow" against drug trafficking, the operation debunks "the narrative that Venezuela facilitates drug trafficking," he said. "No drugs will pass through here."
During this operation, authorities seized "238 bales of drugs", totaling 6,850.41 kg, he said.
