In recent developments, the United States has taken significant action by seizing an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. This operation has raised questions and highlighted the growing naval presence in the region. Below is a detailed account of the event and its implications.
Yves here. Information regarding the U.S. operation to seize an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela is still emerging. However, this move sheds light on the recent buildup of naval forces in the area. CBS has provided insight into this operation and its legal justifications:
The operation to capture the tanker commenced on Wednesday morning shortly after it departed from a Venezuelan port, according to military officials familiar with the operation.
Launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford, an aircraft carrier that has been present in the region for several weeks, the mission involved two helicopters, special operations forces, 10 Coast Guard personnel, and 10 Marines. The boarding team consisted of the Coast Guard’s Maritime Security and Response Team, an elite unit based in Chesapeake, Virginia.
In a short video posted on X, Attorney General Pam Bondi showcased armed personnel descending onto the tanker’s deck from helicopters. She noted that the U.S. executed a seizure warrant, claiming that the tanker was “used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.”
Although the U.S. has previously seized sanctioned oil tankers, carrying out a rapid helicopter boarding at sea is uncommon, though officials assured that the team is trained for such scenarios.
The operation was primarily led by the Coast Guard, with support from naval forces. Legally, the Coast Guard had to be the lead agency since the authority for these seizures falls under its jurisdiction.
The vessel, known as the Skipper and previously referred to as Adisa, was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2022 for its involvement in an oil smuggling network allegedly funding the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah.
The ship is connected to sanctioned Russian oil magnate Viktor Artemov, who, according to the Treasury, had transported Iranian oil using a convoluted network of vessels often registered in obscure ways to evade U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil exports.
While the Treasury’s 2022 sanctions did not specifically mention Venezuela, reports of oil networks linking both countries have persisted for years, prompting pushback from the United States. Both nations are significant petroleum producers with vast oil reserves but are restricted by stringent U.S. sanctions.
The tanker is managed by Nigeria’s Thomarose Global Ventures LTD and owned by a firm connected to Artemov, based on publicly available records.
Cuba was also implicated in this operation:
Trump proudly announces an act of piracy, as the US steals an oil tanker from Venezuela bound for Cuba
This act of financial terrorism aims to deprive Cuba of energy, exacerbating its blackout crisis and tormenting its populace pic.twitter.com/5vo65vD59b
— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) December 10, 2025
According to Reuters, more than 30 sanctioned ships operating in Venezuela could face repercussions following the U.S. tanker seizure:
Over 30 oil vessels sanctioned by the U.S. could face penalties after the Coast Guard seized a supertanker loaded with Venezuelan crude, based on shipping data.
This targeting of Venezuelan-origin cargoes may lead to immediate export delays and deter some vessel owners from operating in the region. Previously, Washington had not disrupted Venezuela’s oil exports, typically carried by intermediaries on third-party vessels.
Prior sanctions on Venezuela-related vessels or oil trades have left many tankers stranded for weeks or even months as owners attempted to avoid conflicts. On Wednesday, more than 80 vessels were either loaded or preparing to load oil in Venezuelan waters or nearby, including over 30 under U.S. sanctions, according to TankerTrackers.com.
The global shadow fleet comprises 1,423 tankers, with 921 subject to U.S., British, or European sanctions, as per analysis from Lloyd’s List Intelligence. These vessels are typically old and poorly documented, often sailing without proper insurance to comply with international standards.
Alexander Mercouris has criticized the term “shadow fleet,” arguing that it implies that the vessels are not insured in the London market and mislabels them as a coordinated group.
In another turn of events, Anadolu Agency reports that Trump has threatened Colombian President Gustavo Petro:
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump warned Petro, stating, “he’s going to be next” as part of efforts to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
“He’s been quite hostile towards the United States. I haven’t put much thought into it. He’s going to face significant challenges if he doesn’t adjust. Colombia is producing a lot of drugs,” Trump remarked regarding Petro’s alleged insensitivity to drug trafficking.
“They have cocaine factories, as you know, and they sell directly to the United States. So he better come to terms with reality, or he’ll be next. I hope he’s listening,” he added.
Such comments raise questions about U.S. diplomacy in the region.
By Josh Owens, Content Director at Oilprice.com. He has spent the last decade writing and curating energy and geopolitical content. Originally published at OilPrice
- The U.S., through the Coast Guard, Homeland Security, and FBI, recently seized the Panama-flagged tanker “Skipper” off the coast of Venezuela under a federal warrant for sanctions violations.
- This action drew condemnation from Venezuela, labeling it as “international piracy” and accusing Washington of attempting to “plunder” its energy resources.
- The seizure has affected oil markets, driving prices higher amid fears of further disruptions to Venezuelan crude exports.
The United States has successfully seized a large oil tanker near Venezuela, escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas while simultaneously pushing oil prices upward. President Trump confirmed the operation, emphasizing the scale of the tanker seized. He also hinted at “other developments” to watch for in the near future.
U.S. authorities, including the Coast Guard, FBI, and Homeland Security, executed the seizure warrant, boarding the tanker via helicopter. The identified vessel, previously named “Adisa,” had been under U.S. sanctions for years due to its involvement in the illicit transportation of Venezuelan and Iranian oil linked to foreign terrorist groups.
Tracking data indicates the tanker had recently loaded heavy crude at Venezuela’s Puerto José. Officials assert that this seizure fits into an intensified U.S. maritime interdiction campaign targeting illicit oil trades and networks associated with sanctioned regimes.
In Caracas, the Maduro administration condemned the seizure as “a blatant theft” and “international piracy.” They alleged that the operation was part of a systematic plan to plunder Venezuela’s energy resources, pledging to defend the nation’s sovereignty and natural resources while calling for international denunciation against the U.S. action.
This seizure follows the recent release of the U.S. national security strategy, which emphasizes a strong U.S. presence in Latin America. Trump’s focus on Venezuela has included aggressive actions against alleged drug shipments in the Caribbean, raising legal and ethical questions regarding those measures.
In response, oil markets reacted swiftly, with prices rising as concerns loom over potential disruptions to Venezuelan crude shipments. At the time of writing, Brent futures indicate a 0.44% increase at $62.21, while West Texas Intermediate futures showed a 0.58% rise, also at $62.21.
The markets will be closely monitoring further developments, particularly the implications of Trump’s assertion that “other things are happening” that could lead to additional escalations in the region.
