As U.S. blows up drug boats, embargoed Venezuelan oil sails unhindered

While the American military blows up boats it claims are transporting drugs from Venezuela, observers say tankers shipping Venezuelan oil in violation of a U.S. embargo continue to navigate the very same Caribbean waters undisturbed.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has claimed a massive U.S. military deployment within striking distance of his country was part of a plan to overthrow him and “steal” his country’s oil under the ruse of an anti-drug operation.

Has the perceived U.S. military threat affected crude exports from Venezuela, the country with more of the “black gold” than any other?

Apart from ships used by U.S. energy giant Chevron — which has a temporary license to extract Venezuelan oil — experts say the Caribbean also plays host to so-called “shadow tankers,” which transp