Washington, DC [US], December 22 (ANI): The United States on Sunday (local time) began pursuing what it described as a 'dark fleet' vessel in international waters near Venezuela after the ship refused to stop and continued sailing, CNN reported.

The vessel, identified as Bella 1, was sailing toward Venezuela to load oil when US Coast Guard personnel attempted to board it.

CNN reported that, instead of complying, the vessel continued sailing, prompting officials to launch an active pursuit.

According to US authorities, Bella 1 is under American sanctions for links to Iranian oil and is viewed as part of a 'shadow fleet' used to transport crude from sanctioned countries. A judicial warrant had already been issued for the vessel's seizure.

'The United States Coast Guard is in active pursuit of a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion,' a second US official said. 'It is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order.'

The operation came just a day after the US Coast Guard intercepted another tanker in international waters off the Venezuelan coast. The interception marked the second such action in as many days.

Earlier, the Venezuelan government had labelled the move an 'act of piracy' and a direct attempt by the United States to seize the country's energy resources and topple its leadership.

In a scathing official statement, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry denounced the 'theft and hijacking' of a private vessel that was transporting Venezuelan oil through international waters.

Caracas went further, accusing US military personnel of the 'forced disappearance' of the ship's crew, as per Russia Today.

The Venezuelan government argued that this latest interception is not an isolated incident. Instead, they described it as a 'colonialist model' being orchestrated by Washington to strip Venezuela of its sovereignty and natural wealth.