Venezuela’s Parliament approves law against piracy, blockades after US ship seizures

Venezuela’s ruling party-controlled National Assembly has unanimously approved a law that allows prison sentences of up to 20 years for anyone who promotes or finances what it describes as piracy or blockades. The law, which includes other international crimes, comes after recent US actions against Venezuelan oil shipments. The draft “Law to Guarantee Freedom of Navigation and Commerce Against Piracy, Blockades, and Other International Illicit Acts” was introduced by pro-government lawmaker Giuseppe Alessandrello. National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez said at the end of the session that the bill will be sent to the executive for approval and will take effect once published in the Official Gazette. Earlier this month, the US Coast Guard had seized a sanctioned supertanker carrying Venezuelan crude and attempted to intercept two other vessels linked to Venezuela over the weekend, as per a report.