The United States has seized a large oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, a move President Donald Trump described as the “largest tanker ever seized” and one that sharply intensifies Washington’s confrontation with Nicolás Maduro’s government.
US officials said the vessel, identified as the Skipper, had long been sanctioned for moving crude tied to illicit networks supporting Hezbollah and Iran’s Quds Force, and had been “spoofing” its location for months.
Footage released by Attorney General Pam Bondi showed US Marines and Coast Guard personnel fast-roping onto the tanker from helicopters launched off the USS *Gerald Ford*, the world’s largest aircraft carrier.
Venezuela denounced the operation as “international piracy,” accusing Washington of seeking to plunder its natural resources, while Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello called US forces “high seas criminals.”
Analysts warned the seizure could disrupt Venezuela’s oil flows and heighten risks for global shippers, with Brent crude prices rising slightly after the announcement. The tanker had recently visited ports in Iran, Iraq, and the UAE, and was reportedly displaying a Guyana flag despite not being registered there.
The operation comes as the US boosts its military presence in the Caribbean and continues a series of maritime strikes targeting alleged drug-smuggling vessels, fuelling speculation over escalating regional tensions.
Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, executed a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. For multiple… pic.twitter.com/dNr0oAGl5x
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) December 10, 2025
