US forces stop second merchant vessel off coast of Venezuela

US forces stop second merchant vessel off coast of Venezuela, American officials say

US forces on Saturday stopped a second merchant vessel off the coast of Venezuela in international waters, two American officials told The Associated Press.

President Donald Trump speaks during an event on prescription drug prices in the Roosevelt Room of the White House (AP)

The tanker stopped voluntarily and allowed US forces to board it, one official said.

The move comes days after President Donald Trump announced a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers coming in and out of the South American country and follows the Dec 10 seizure by American forces of an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast.

The officials were not authorised to discuss publicly the ongoing military operation and spoke on condition of anonymity.