The United States has seized a large crude tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from both Venezuela and Iran, a dramatic enforcement action that immediately raised oil prices and heightened tensions with the Maduro regime.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed late Wednesday that federal agents executed a seizure warrant on the vessel—identified as The Skipper—off the coast of Venezuela.
“For multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations,” Bondi said on X.
A Vessel Long on Washington’s Radar
The Skipper, sanctioned in 2022 over its links to Iran and Hezbollah, had reportedly loaded more than one million barrels of heavy Venezuelan crude in “dark” mode with its transponder off—an increasingly common practice among sanctioned shippers. Analysts say the tanker was likely headed toward Cuba.
President Donald Trump confirmed the seizure at a White House roundtable.
“We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela… the largest one ever seized, actually,” he said. “It was seized for a very good reason. And as for the oil? We’ll keep it, I guess.”
U.S. officials described the mission as a “judicial enforcement action” involving the Coast Guard, Navy, and FBI tactical teams. Video posted by Bondi showed armed agents fast-roping from helicopters onto the ship’s deck.
Venezuela Calls Move ‘Blatant Theft’
The Maduro government responded furiously, accusing Washington of “blatant theft” and vowing to defend its sovereignty before international bodies.
“This is an assault on our natural resources and national dignity,” a government statement said.
Caracas has alleged that the massive U.S. military buildup offshore—including the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier and thousands of troops—is part of a plot to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro and seize control of the nation’s vast oil reserves.
Oil Markets Jolt; Shipping Fears Grow
Crude prices spiked from $58 to $59 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange following the news. Analysts warn that the seizure will have an immediate chilling effect on shippers willing to load Venezuelan oil—much of which is already transported by uninsured “ghost tankers” operating in legal gray zones.
Venezuela exported more than 900,000 barrels per day last month, its third-highest monthly average this year. Oil remains the country’s primary source of revenue, much of it sold at steep discounts to China to compete with sanctioned Russian and Iranian crude.
Guyana Flag Fraud Revealed
Guyana’s maritime administration said The Skipper was falsely flying its national flag. Officials announced plans for enforcement measures to curb what they called a growing pattern of unauthorized flag use among sanction-evading vessels.
Part of a Broader U.S. Pressure Campaign
This is not the first time Washington has intercepted oil tied to Iran and Venezuela. In 2020, the U.S. seized 1.1 million barrels of Iranian fuel bound for Venezuela, calling it the largest-ever confiscation of Iranian oil.
Since September, the Trump administration has intensified its campaign against Maduro, launching more than 20 strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels and warning that land-based targets could be next.
Trump has repeatedly raised the possibility of military action if Maduro refuses to step down or hold free elections.
A Regional Flashpoint Escalates
The seizure comes as dozens of tankers linger off Venezuela, some with tracking systems turned off. U.S. officials say additional enforcement actions may be imminent.
“The message is clear,” one Pentagon official said. “Sanction-evading tankers are now high-risk vessels.”
