The ships are using deceptive tactics as part of a seemingly coordinated attempt to bypass American naval forces in the region.

At least 16 sanctioned oil tankers have fled Venezuela in an effort to avoid a US navy blockade of the country.

About a dozen oil tankers loaded with Venezuelan crude and fuel have left the country's waters since the start of the year in apparent defiance of the U.S. government's blockade on exports.

A group of sanctioned tankers have attempted a mass breakout through the US naval blockade of Venezuela. At least a dozen ships loaded with crude were trying to defy the blockade with some going dark and spoofing their positions, according to news reports.

Questioned over the weekend about how the U.S. government will take over governing Venezuela, Secretary of State Marco Rubio instead shifted the focus to the U.S. blockade of sanctioned oil tankers. CBC News looks at the origins of the blockade,

Jan 4 (Reuters) - Venezuela's state-run oil company PDVSA has begun cutting crude production because it is running out of storage capacity due to an ongoing U.S. oil blockade that has reduced exports to zero, piling more pressure on an interim government trying to hang on to power in the face of U.S. threats of more military action.

A group of sanctioned oil tankers has attempted a mass breakout through the US naval blockade of Venezuela. At least a dozen ships loaded with crude were trying to defy the blockade, with some going dark and spoofing their positions, according to news reports.