U.S. forces stopped a second merchant vessel off the coast of Venezuela on Saturday, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter. The officials, who were not authorized to discuss the operation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the action was a "consented boarding," with the tanker stopping voluntarily and allowing U.S. forces to inspect its cargo.

The move comes as President Donald Trump continues to ramp up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Trump announced a "blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers coming in and out of the South American country just days ago, following the Dec. 10 seizure by American forces of an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast. The blockade aims to restrict the flow of oil from Venezuela, which is a key source of revenue for Maduro's government.

Venezuela's government has strongly condemned Trump's move, calling it an "outrageous threat" to the country's sovereignty. Maduro has accused the United States of attempting to strangle Venezuela's economy and undermine its government.

The U.S. officials who spoke to The Associated Press described the recent seizures as part of a broader effort to enforce U.S. sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry. The sanctions, which were imposed in response to Maduro's authoritarian rule and human rights abuses, aim to prevent the sale of Venezuelan oil to U.S. companies and restrict the country's access to international financial markets.

The Dec. 10 seizure of the oil tanker was the first of its kind, and the latest incident marks the second time in less than two weeks that U.S. forces have intercepted a vessel off the coast of Venezuela. The exact cargo and destination of the second vessel were not disclosed, but the U.S. officials said that the boarding was conducted in accordance with international law and with the consent of the vessel's crew.

The U.S. government has not publicly disclosed the details of the blockade or the specific vessels that will be affected. However, officials have indicated that the measure is intended to prevent the sale of Venezuelan oil to U.S. companies and restrict the country's access to international financial markets.

The situation remains tense, with both sides refusing to back down. Maduro has vowed to resist the U.S. blockade and maintain control over Venezuela's oil industry, while the U.S. government continues to pressure his government to step down and allow for a transition to democracy.