The United States has seized a Venezuelan oil tanker, the first of its kind under ongoing sanctions, and is preparing to intercept additional vessels.
The move increases pressure on President Nicolás Maduro and further disrupts Venezuela’s crude shipments to international markets.
President Donald Trump confirmed the operation during remarks at the White House, stating, “We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela large tanker, very large, largest one ever seized, actually. And other things are happening.”
According to a senior Trump administration official, the vessel was considered “a stateless vessel” and had last docked in Venezuela. Bloomberg News initially reported the seizure.
The action could complicate Venezuela’s ability to export crude oil, as shipping companies may grow increasingly reluctant to handle the country's cargoes. Venezuela currently relies heavily on intermediaries to sell oil mostly to China at steep discounts due to sanctions risks. Brent futures rose slightly following the news.
Hours after the announcement, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi released a video on X showing heavily armed personnel descending onto the ship via a Black Hawk helicopter using the standard “fast roping” technique.
Bondi wrote, “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.”
The video did not clarify whether the forces involved belonged to the Coast Guard or U.S. special operations.
The Venezuelan government denounced the operation as a “blatant theft” and an “act of piracy,” asserting that the nation would defend its sovereignty and natural resources “with absolute determination.”
In its official statement, the government added, “The true reasons for the aggression against Venezuela have finally been revealed. It was always about our natural resources, our oil.”
Details on the Seized Vessel:
The tanker has been identified as the Skipper, according to individuals familiar with the situation and a Guyanese official. The 20-year-old very-large crude carrier (VLCC), previously named Adisa, was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2022 for allegedly aiding Iranian oil exports.
Although the tanker was said to be sailing under the Guyana flag, the country’s Maritime Administration rejected any association with the vessel.
VLCCs are capable of transporting about 2 million barrels of oil. U.S. officials concluded the Skipper was headed for Cuba, though such a journey would be atypical based on historical routes, given the ship’s enormous size.
