Kerry Kahn

A U.S.

official tells NPR that the U.S.

Coast Guard, quote, is in active pursuit of a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion.

The official was not authorized to speak publicly, but did add that the tanker is, quote,

flying a false flag and is under a judicial seizure order.

The Pentagon and the U.S.

Coast Guard referred all inquiries to the White House, which has yet to comment.

President Trump said last week that he was ordering a total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers coming and going from Venezuela.

On Saturday, U.S.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the U.S.

Coast Guard had boarded an oil tanker, which a White House official later said was flying a false Panamanian flag.

Carrie Khan, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro.

We may be having some discussions with Maduro.

We may be having some discussions with Maduro, and we'll see how that turns out.

Over the weekend, he gathered supporters and he announced this plan to rally civilians to defend Venezuela against attack.

But listen to this.

He told the crowd he just wants peace, peace, peace.

Yesterday, the U.S.

said it will designate the Cartel de los Soles, which they claim Maduro leads as a foreign terrorist organization.

Maduro denies he's a trafficker.