US seizes two oil tankers for violating sanctions

The United States has seized two oil tankers for allegedly violating American sanctions, escalating its enforcement action against vessels linked to sanctioned oil trade.
According to reports, one of the vessels, a Venezuelan-owned oil tanker, had been placed under U.S. sanctions in 2024 for allegedly transporting cargo for a company linked to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Another vessel was also sanctioned recently, following which U.S. authorities intensified monitoring of such ships.
In this backdrop, U.S. forces intercepted and seized the merchant vessel Bella 1 and the oil tanker Sophia while they were operating in the Caribbean
Sea. Both vessels were taken under U.S. control for allegedly breaching sanctions regulations.
Officials said the action was part of ongoing efforts to crack down on ships attempting to evade sanctions through illicit oil transport.
Further legal proceedings related to the seizure of the vessels are
expected.