US forces intercept second merchant vessel off Venezuela amid blockade of sanctioned vessels

US forces on Saturday stopped an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela for the second time in less than two weeks, following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a blockade on sanctioned vessels. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the operation, carried out with the Defense Department, targeted a tanker last docked in Venezuela, as Washington ramps up the pressure on Caracas.