U.S. gov't files seizure warrants targeting Venezuela-linked oil tankers

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. administration of Donald Trump has filed court warrants targeting oil tankers in links with Venezuela, according to media reports on Tuesday.

The U.S. government has filed multiple civil forfeiture actions through federal courts in efforts to seize and confiscate oil cargo and vessels involved in the U.S.-sanctioned Venezuelan trade, Reuters reported.

It remained unclear how many seizure warrants the United States is seeking.

The Pentagon said on Friday that it "will hunt down and interdict ALL dark fleet vessels transporting Venezuelan oil at the time and place of our choosing."

Trump announced the United States would control Venezuela's oil resources after the Pentagon launched a large-scale strike in the oil-rich South American nation and seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3. Maduro is now in custody in New York to stand trial on drug charges.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said last week that the United States will not only market stored oil in Venezuela but also control the sales of oil output from the country indefinitely.

The U.S. forces have seized five oil tankers linked with Venezuela since December.