"MICHEL MARTIN, HOST: Attorney General Pam Bondi released a 45-second video showing what appeared to be U.S. forces and the Coast Guard rappelling from a helicopter onto the tanker. There's been a U.S. military buildup near Venezuela in recent weeks as Congress pushes for answers about U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats, and specifically a September 2 incident when the U.S. military killed two men who survived an initial round of strikes."
"WALSH: Well, the details are just coming in. But after the president confirmed the seizure, Justice Department Head Pam Bondi posted on social media that it was an oil tanker U.S. authorities had been watching and that it was used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. This could be a ratcheting up of not just military, but economic pressure on Venezuela and its president, Nicolas Maduro."
U.S. authorities seized an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast, displaying forces rappelling onto the vessel in a brief video released by Attorney General Pam Bondi. Officials said the tanker had been monitored and was used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. The seizure followed a U.S. military buildup near Venezuela amid congressional inquiries into strikes on alleged drug boats, including a September 2 operation that resulted in two deaths after an initial strike. A court order authorized the seizure. The action signals increased U.S. military and economic pressure on President Nicolás Maduro.
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