The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing another sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuela in international waters, as the Trump administration steps up pressure on President Nicolás Maduro.

Axar.az, citing CBS, reports that if seized, it would be the third Venezuelan tanker taken by the U.S. this month. U.S. officials say the vessel is part of Venezuela’s “dark” or shadow fleet used to evade sanctions, operate under false flags, and traffic oil illegally.

The latest pursuit follows the seizure of the Panama-flagged tanker Centuries, which Washington says was funding the Maduro government.

Venezuela has condemned the actions as piracy and warned it will raise the issue at the UN and other international bodies.

The crackdown aligns with Trump’s call for a full blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers and broader U.S. operations targeting smuggling networks in the region.