Third oil tanker under US pursuit appears with Russian flag on its side

(TNND) — A third oil tanker being pursued by the U.S in the Caribbean Sea has been seen with a Russian flag painted on the side of the ship in an attempt to claim Russian protection, American officials told The New York Times.

The U.S. Coast Guard started going after the oil tanker, Bella 1, that “is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion” on Dec. 21.

The American officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the vessel was flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order, making it subject to boarding under international law. There has not been an explanation for why the Coast Guard is waiting to board the ship.

Officials added that the ship also appeared to change its direction and is possibly heading to Greenland or Iceland.

Federal authorities reported the oil tanker has been under U.S. sanctions since last year for transporting Iranian oil, which is sold to finance terrorism.

A seizure warrant was obtained, according to officials, and the Bella 1 is reportedly part of a ghost fleet moving oil from Russia, Iran and Venezuela in violation of U.S. sanctions.

Two sanctioned oil tankers, Skipper and Centuries, have been seized by the Coast Guard since Dec. 10, as federal officials aim to cut off oil revenue for Venezuela.

President Donald Trump, after the first seizure, vowed that the U.S. would carry out a “blockade” of Venezuela. It all comes as Trump has ratcheted up his rhetoric toward Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and warned that the longtime Venezuelan leader’s days in power are numbered.

Maduro continues to deny U.S. charges that he heads a drug trafficking organization, calling them political “fabrications” and “terrorist” actions by the Trump administration.

As part of the pressure campaign on Maduro, the CIA reportedly carried out a drone strike last week on a dock believed to have been used by Venezuelan drug cartels.

It is the first known strike inside Venezuela as the U.S. military continues to target suspected narcotics-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.