US plans to intercept sanctioned oil tanker evading authorities: Reports

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00:00Now to exclusive reporting from CBS News and a high-stakes pursuit playing out at sea.

00:08The outlet, along with CNN, is now reporting that American forces are preparing to intercept

00:14a sanctioned oil tanker that has been evading American authorities since last month.

00:19You see it right here. The ship, now called Marinara, was previously known as Bella One

00:24and has a history of carrying Venezuelan crude oil.

00:27The tanker has been on the run since mid-December as the U.S. tightens its pressure campaign

00:33against Venezuela following the capture of Nicolas Maduro.

00:37U.S. officials tell CBS the preference is to seize the ship, not sink it.

00:42Similar to last month's operation that ended with American forces boarding

00:46and taking control of another oil tanker out of Venezuela.

00:50Intelligence officials tell CBS that before Maduro's capture,

00:54Venezuelan officials discussed putting armed personnel on tankers disguised as civilians

00:59and deploying portable air defense systems.

01:03The Marinara has since changed its name and its flag.

01:06It is now registered in Russia and heading toward Europe.

01:09The Irish Times reports U.S. surveillance aircraft have been tracking the ship as it moves near Irish waters,

01:16with Russia asking the United States to stand down.

01:19The White House has not commented, but if the Marinara is seized,

01:23it would be the third Venezuelan oil tanker taken by the U.S. since this campaign began.