U.S. Hunts "Ghost" Oil Tankers as Sanctions on Venezuela Tighten

The U.S. Coast Guard is actively pursuing a third "dark fleet" tanker suspected of carrying sanctioned Venezuelan oil. This chase is part of a broader crackdown on networks that help Venezuela evade international sanctions. A U.S. official confirmed the operation to Fox News. It follows recent moves by the Trump administration to increase pressure on the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. "Dark fleet" is industry jargon for aging tankers that operate secretly. They often disable location transmitters and use ship-to-ship transfers to hide the origin of their cargo. The goal is to stop the flow of oil revenue to Maduro's administration. The U.S. and dozens of other nations recognize opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's legitimate president. This pursuit signals a continued focus on maritime enforcement. Officials aim to dismantle the complex systems used to sell Venezuelan crude on the global black market.