U.S. Coast Guard interdicts sanctioned vessel off Venezuela, officials say

The United States Coast Guard is interdicting a sanctioned vessel off the coast of Venezuela, two U.S. officials confirmed to NBC News.

The operation is ongoing.

The Coast Guard is leading the mission, the officials said. The U.S. military is providing support, including helicopters that are transporting Coast Guard personnel to the vessel and monitoring the operation from above, according to one of the officials.

Reuters first reported news of the interdiction.

The operation follows a similar action last week, when U.S. authorities interdicted a large sanctioned oil tanker known as the Skipper off the Venezuelan coast.

After that interdiction, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on six additional ships believed to be transporting Venezuelan oil, escalating efforts to enforce restrictions against the country’s energy exports.