Noem links seizure of an oil tanker near Venezuela to US anti-narcotics efforts

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Linked to the seizure of an oil tanker near the coast on Thursday Venezuela till trump Administration’s anti-narcotics efforts Latin America Tensions have increased with the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

Noem’s claim, which came during her testimony before the House Homeland Security Committee, provided the Republican administration’s most in-depth assessment yet of why it took control of the ship on Wednesday. Incredibly unusual, the use of US forces to seize a merchant ship was the latest step in the administration’s pressure campaign on Maduro, who is accused in the United States of narco-terrorism.

Asked to characterize the U.S. Coast Guard’s role in the effort, Noem called the tanker seizure “a successful operation directed by the President to ensure that we are pushing back against a regime that is systematically flooding our country with deadly drugs and killing our next generation of Americans.”

Noem released a “fatal dose of cocaine,” saying she was barred from entering the United States as a result.

Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday that the tanker was seized “for a very good reason.” Asked what would happen to the oil in the tanker, Trump said, “I guess, OK, we keep it.”

The US has built its largest military presence in the region in decades and launched a series of deadly attacks on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, a campaign that is facing increasing congressional scrutiny.

Trump, who has said ground strikes are coming soon but has not provided further details, has broadly justified the steps as necessary to stem the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the US.

The Venezuelan government said in a statement that the tanker’s seizure was “a blatant theft and an act of international piracy.” Maduro has insisted that the real purpose of the US military operations is to force him from office.

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Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP.