The United States has seized an oil tanker situated off the coast of Venezuela, as confirmed by President Donald Trump. This development marks a significant intensification in the US's campaign against Nicolás Maduro's government. "We have just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela - a very large one, actually the largest ever seized," President Trump announced to reporters at the White House. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who released a video of the operation, called the vessel a "crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran." The government in Caracas quickly decried the seizure, labeling it an act of "international piracy." President Maduro had earlier asserted that Venezuela will resist becoming an "oil colony."
The Trump administration has accused Venezuela of moving narcotics into the United States and has increased efforts to isolate President Maduro. Venezuela, in return, accuses the US of attempting to take its resources, significant given the country's substantial oil reserves. As news of the seizure broke, Brent crude prices saw a slight increase, raising short-term supply concerns. Analysts warn this move could further endanger shippers and disrupt Venezuela's oil exports.
Attorney General Bondi explained that the FBI, Defense Department, Homeland Security, and the Coast Guard coordinated for this seizure. "The oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States for years because of its ties to an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations," Bondi stated. Video shared by the Attorney General captures a military helicopter above the large vessel, with troops descending to the deck with guns drawn. A senior military source informed BBC's US partner CBS that the helicopters operated from the USS Gerald Ford, a large aircraft carrier recently dispatched to the Caribbean. The operation included two helicopters, 10 Coast Guard personnel, 10 Marines, and special forces.
When questioned about the oil aboard the tanker, President Trump remarked, "We keep it, I guess... I assume we're going to keep the oil." Maritime risk advisory company Vanguard Tech has identified the tanker as the Skipper, asserting it had been "spoofing" its location for some time. The US Treasury sanctioned the Skipper in 2022 for alleged involvement in oil smuggling that generated funds for Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force. BBC Verify was able to track the tanker's movements on MarineTraffic, noting it was flying the flag of Guyana, though the Guyana Maritime Administration reported that no such registration existed. The Skipper's travel log indicates recent ports of call included Iran, Iraq, and the UAE, with its most recent stop reported at Iran's Soroosh port on July 9. Data from MarineTraffic suggests the vessel was last near Iran in mid-September before its current position near Guyana's coast, although this information could be incomplete due to the use of spoofing technology.