Trump administration uses sanctions law, not military authority, to seize Venezuelan oil tanker tied to Iran network supporting terrorist groups.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado on Friday promised political change after slipping out of the country in secret to collect the Nobel Peace Prize, as the shock waves intensified from the Trump administration's seizure of an oil tanker earlier this week.

The US has positioned warships, aircraft and troops near Venezuela and conducted a series of air attacks on small boats in the region that American officials allege were operated by drug cartels. US forces intercepted and seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Dec.

America has rapidly increased its military presence in Latin America to the largest levels in decades in what the administration insists is an effort to combat drug trafficking being assisted by

U.S. military seizes Venezuelan oil tanker in rare operation targeting sanctions violations. Armed agents rappelled from helicopters in dramatic takedown.