US handing over seized tanker to Venezuela, officials say

The United States is handing over to Venezuela a tanker that it seized this month, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Wednesday.
The United States has been carrying out a months-long effort to seize oil tankers linked to Venezuela - carrying out seven apprehensions since late last year.

The officials, who were speaking on the condition of anonymity, identified the vessel being handed over to Venezuelan authorities as the Panama-flagged supertanker M/T Sophia. They did not say why the tanker was returned.

The U.S. Coast Guard, which leads interdiction and seizure operations, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Venezuelan communications ministry, which handles all press queries for the government, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.