LONDON –
The U.S. government has filed for court warrants to seize dozens more tankers linked to the Venezuelan oil trade, four sources familiar with the matter said, as Washington consolidates control of oil shipments in and out of the South American country.
The U.S. military and coast guard have seized five vessels in recent weeks in international waters that were either carrying Venezuelan oil or have done so in the past.
The seizures were part of Washington’s campaign to force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro out of power that culminated in U.S. forces capturing him on Jan. 3.