The United States seized a Venezuelan tanker this week in a high-profile raid targeting illicit oil shipments. The vessel, formerly named Adisa and now called Skipper, was taken by US forces using a helicopter boarding operation, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said.
The seizure was carried out by the US Coast Guard under a warrant signed by a magistrate judge on November 25. The Treasury Department stated that the tanker was involved in transporting sanctioned oil linked to Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard. Six companies and relatives of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro were also sanctioned in connection with the operation.
“The seizure of this vessel highlights our successful efforts to impose costs on the governments of Venezuela and Iran,” FBI Director Kash Patel said. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt added that the tanker “will go to a US port” and the United States intends to take control of its oil.
A video released by US Attorney General Pam Bondi showed American forces descending onto the tanker’s deck and securing the bridge. Bondi described the ship as part of an “illicit oil shipping network” transporting black-market oil.
The tanker seized sparked immediate outrage in Venezuela. The foreign ministry condemned the operation as “blatant theft and an act of international piracy.” President Nicolas Maduro accused the US of kidnapping the crew and stealing the ship, warning that Venezuela will protect its oil shipments worldwide.
US officials reported that the tanker was heading toward Cuba when it was intercepted. The vessel is expected to dock in Galveston, Texas, with the crew released upon arrival, according to unnamed sources.
The operation reflects growing pressure from the Trump administration on Maduro. Washington has labeled Maduro’s government a “narco-terrorist regime” and offered a $50 million reward for information on his capture. Trump has suggested Maduro’s “days are numbered” and did not rule out a potential US ground intervention.
The tanker seized is the latest step in a broader campaign to enforce US sanctions and target Venezuelan oil networks.
Officials say such actions aim to prevent sanctioned vessels from fueling illegal activity and bolster accountability in international oil trade.
The incident underscores escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela over oil, sanctions, and alleged criminal networks.
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