Report: US seizes oil tanker off Venezuela
The US seized a sanctioned oil tanker named Skipper off Venezuela’s coast on December 10, 2025, escalating tensions with the Maduro government.
US agencies including the Coast Guard, FBI, Homeland Security, and military executed the seizure via helicopters, with armed personnel boarding the vessel. The tanker, previously sanctioned in 2022 for illicit oil shipments linked to Iran and foreign terrorist networks, carried about 1 million barrels of Venezuelan heavy crude loaded from the Jose terminal. Attorney General Pam Bondi released video footage of the operation on X.
The White House plans to direct the tanker to a US port, forfeit it legally, and confiscate the oil cargo after crew interviews and evidence collection. President Trump called it the “largest” such seizure and hinted at keeping the oil, amid broader pressure on Maduro including restored sanctions and military buildup in the Caribbean. Sources indicate preparations for seizing additional shadow tankers.
Venezuela condemned the action as “outright theft” and “international piracy,” vowing to raise it with international organizations and defend its resources. Oil prices rose following the news, as Venezuela relies heavily on exports despite holding the world’s largest reserves.
