The United States intensified its enforcement of a blockade on Venezuelan oil exports on Wednesday by seizing two tankers in separate operations in the Atlantic and Caribbean, underscoring Washington’s intent to directly control how Venezuelan crude moves through global markets.

One of the vessels was a Russian‑flagged tanker, known until recently as the Bella 1 and renamed Marinera, which U.S. officials said violated American sanctions after trying to sail toward Venezuela to load oil, according to Reuters.

U.S. forces pursued the ship for weeks across the North Atlantic before boarding and seizing it in international waters; the tanker was not carrying oil when taken.

Hours later, U.S. forces captured a second vessel, the M Sophia, which the military described as a stateless “dark fleet” tanker involved in sanctioned and illicit oil transport, in international waters in the Caribbean.

Officials said the ship had been engaged in unauthorized activity and was being escorted to the United States for legal proceedings and what they called “final disposition.”

The seizures coincided with Secretary of State Marco Rubio laying out the most detailed public outline yet of the administration’s Venezuela strategy.

Speaking at the Capitol on Wednesday, Rubio described a three‑phase plan that begins with stabilizing Venezuela by seizing and selling between 30 million and 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil—roughly equivalent to about two months of the country’s production, with the proceeds controlled by the United States rather than Venezuela’s interim authorities.

“That gives us tremendous leverage,” Rubio said.

Under the proposal, Rubio said the next phase would focus on opening up Venezuela’s energy sector so that U.S., Western and other firms can compete on fair terms, while also promoting the reintegration of opposition figures into the country’s political and civic life.