Two unnamed US officials told the Reuters news agency on Wednesday the operation is being carried out by the Coast Guard and US military. Russian state broadcaster RT reported it appears US forces are trying to board Venezuela-linked oil tanker Marinera from a helicopter, and published an image of a helicopter hovering near the ship. RT cited an unnamed source as saying a US coast guard vessel has been following the tanker and an attempt to seize it during a storm had already been carried out.
The Trump administration says the U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing an oil tanker linked to Venezuela. This action is the latest in the Trump administration's pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government. The move is also part of the administration's effort to enforce a blockade against sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela. A U.S. official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, informed NPR yesterday that the Coast Guard was in "active pursuit of a ship."
Colombia's largest remaining rebel force has told civilians living under its authority to stay at home for three days while it stages military drills in response to burgeoning United States threats. The National Liberation Army (ELN), a left-wing rebel group, ordered the lockdown on Friday, instructing residents to keep off major routes and rivers from Sunday morning as fighters conduct what the group describes as preparations to defend the country against imperialist intervention.