The temperature is definitely rising for Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro as the United States Coast Guard is reportedly tracking a third unauthorized oil tanker near Venezuela’s shores.

While this development marks the third such incident, it’s important to note that, at the time of writing, there has been no official confirmation from the White House regarding this pursuit.

U.S. authorities have the legal right to seize these vessels under a seizure warrant, a measure already applied to the first two tankers. However, the oil on board is reportedly unsuitable for American refineries due to its poor quality and high sulfur content. It might find use in asphalt production, but crucially, it won’t be contributing to Venezuela’s dwindling financial reserves.

So far, the strategy appears effective. Although the report mentions the Coast Guard is actively pursuing this latest tanker, it’s likely to be a short chase. The odds are decidedly in favor of the Coast Guard, akin to a racing greyhound outpacing a slow-moving Basset Hound, especially with aerial support enhancing the operation.

The Pentagon referred Newsweek to the White House on the matter when contacted for comment. Newsweek has reached out to the White House for comment and confirmation via email on Sunday.

While we can seize these tankers legally under a seizure warrant, as was done on the first such and presumably on the second, sadly, we’re given to understand that the oil they are hauling isn’t suitable for American refineries, being too poor quality, too full of sulfur, and other noxious substances. Perhaps it can be used to make asphalt. But the important point is that it won’t be putting any money into Venezuela’s shrinking accounts.

The tanker the U.S. Coast guard is reportedly pursuing is under sanctions, an official told Reuters. Bloomberg reported that the U.S. boarded the tanker, which it identified as Panamanian-flagged tanker Bella 1. However, Reuters reporter Idress Ali said in an X post, “Officials tell Reuters that while the U.S. is pursuing a tanker in international waters in the Caribbean, it has not yet been boarded,” and marinetraffick.com noted the ship to be Guyana-flagged en route to Curaçao.

Saturday’s apprehension and Sunday’s pursuit come less than a week after Trump ordered a blockade on Venezuela’s oil tankers, as he alleged that the South American country uses oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and crime.

The White House’s National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said on Sunday that the two earlier tankers this month were operating on the black market and providing oil to various sanctioned countries. Noem said in her Saturday X post confirming the apprehension of another tanker, “The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region. We will find you, and we will stop you.”

So far, it’s working. Now, we note that the report here states that the Coast Guard is “pursuing” this new tanker, but that should be resolved quickly. A U.S. Coast Guard cutter or two pursuing a tramp oil tanker is a lot like a racing greyhound pursuing an elderly and arthritic Basset. That pursuit, no doubt aided by aerial reconnaissance, won’t last long.