US forces intercepted and seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, according to people familiar with the matter, a move that marks a serious escalation of tensions between the two countries.

By Bloomberg

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Venezuela's state oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela SA, and the Venezuelan Ministries of Petroleum and Information also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The seizure could significantly hinder Venezuela's oil exports, as other carriers are now likely to be more reluctant to load its cargoes. Most Venezuelan oil is destined for China, usually through intermediaries, at steep discounts due to the risk of sanctions.

The Trump administration has intensified pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom it has accused of leading a drug trafficking network. The Pentagon has carried out more than 20 attacks against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in waters near Venezuela and Colombia, resulting in the deaths of more than 80 suspected drug traffickers. President Donald Trump has repeatedly hinted that the United States could launch a land attack and that Maduro's days are numbered.