Oil futures gained, focusing on stepped-up U.S. actions to enforce a blockade of oil tankers in and out of Venezuela.

For a second time in a month, the US has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela

Oil prices rose on Monday after officials said the U.S. had intercepted an oil tanker in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, raising fears of supply disruption.

The U.S. confirmed that it seized an oil tanker near Venezuela, the second such seizure this month. The U.S. Coast Guard led the operation, which took place in international waters. Meanwhile, the U.S.

The U.S. Coast Guard led another seizure of an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela on Saturday amid a blockade of Venezuela.

The seizure comes comes days after President Trump announced a "blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

U.S. forces on Saturday stopped a second merchant vessel off the coast of Venezuela in international waters, two American officials told The Associated Press. The tanker stopped voluntarily and allowed U.

The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, officials told Reuters on Sunday (December 21), in what would be the third operation in less than two weeks if successful.