U.S. seeks to seize dozens of Venezuelan oil tankers amid expanded efforts to control its oil trade.

The U.S. has filed multiple civil forfeiture actions in federal court seeking seizure warrants for dozens of oil tankers linked to Venezuela’s sanctioned oil trade, part of an expanded effort to control Venezuelan oil shipments. The Pentagon plans to intercept and seize vessels from the so-called "dark fleet" transporting Venezuelan crude, following the January 3 capture of President Nicolás Maduro and the U.S. military’s prior seizure of five tankers in international waters. The U.S. intends to manage Venezuela’s oil resources indefinitely, with shipments resuming under American oversight. The exact number of filed or granted warrants remains undisclosed.