DOJ says Venezuelan tanker seizure was sanctions/forfeiture action, not wartime authority
The U.S. Justice Department says the seizure of the 333‑meter tanker The Skipper (formerly M/T Adisa) — conducted by a Coast Guard‑led law‑enforcement boarding supported by the Navy from USS Gerald R. Ford — was carried out under U.S. sanctions and civil‑forfeiture authorities via a federal seizure warrant, not under wartime or armed‑conflict powers. The Skipper, sanctioned in 2022 for links to an IRGC/Hezbollah oil network and reportedly controlled by Nigeria‑based Thomarose Global with ties to sanctioned Russian interests, was carrying roughly 1.8–2 million barrels of heavy crude (valued in the tens of millions) that the U.S. intends to forfeit and bring to port, while Venezuela denounced the action as "piracy" as Washington says the move signals a broader crackdown on a sanction‑busting shadow fleet.
📌 Key Facts
- The vessel is identified as The Skipper (formerly M/T Adisa/The Toyo), a roughly 20‑year‑old, ~332–333 meter tanker that was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2022 for links to an IRGC/Hezbollah oil network; ownership/management is linked to Nigeria‑based Thomarose Global Ventures LTD and to sanctioned Russian magnate Viktor Artemov.
- U.S. forces boarded the ship in a Coast Guard‑led, law‑enforcement operation with Navy support from USS Gerald R. Ford — launched in the early morning via helicopter insertion and fast‑roping by Coast Guard MSRT personnel, with additional Marines and Coast Guard support; Attorney General Pam Bondi released video of the boarding.
- Department of Justice and senior administration officials say the seizure was executed under a DOJ‑obtained civil forfeiture/seizure warrant and U.S. sanctions authorities — not under wartime or armed‑conflict authority.
- The tanker was carrying roughly 1.8–2.0 million barrels of heavy crude (reports say about half of the cargo may belong to a Cuban state oil importer per PDVSA documents); approximately 200,000 barrels were reportedly transferred just before the seizure; value estimates range from tens of millions to roughly $60–$100 million.
- The White House says The Skipper will be brought to a U.S. port and the oil is intended to be seized subject to the statutory forfeiture process; an investigative team is on board conducting interviews and collecting evidence.
- Venezuela denounced the action as “international piracy” and a “brazen robbery” and vowed to pursue complaints internationally; President Nicolás Maduro escalated rhetoric domestically. Domestically, President Trump called it “the largest one ever seized” and suggested the U.S. would keep the oil, while opposition leader María Corina Machado said the move weakens Maduro but stopped short of endorsing U.S. military intervention.
- Analysts and commercial intelligence firms (Windward, Vortexa) say the seizure signals a broader U.S. crackdown on the ‘shadow fleet’ that uses AIS spoofing and dark‑fleet tactics to evade sanctions — Windward’s analysis showed The Skipper spoofed its AIS with an improbable zigzag near Guyana while it was actually seized about 360 nautical miles northwest near Venezuela; OPEC data cited that Venezuela’s output has risen roughly 25% over two years in part via such tactics.
- The seizure is being contextualized as part of Operation Southern Spear with dual counterdrug and sanctions‑enforcement goals, and it recalls the last widely publicized U.S. seizure of a foreign oil tanker (MV Morning Glory) in 2014.
📊 Relevant Data
Oil exports financed 58 percent of Venezuela’s government budget in 2024.
Venezuela: The Rise and Fall of a Petrostate — Council on Foreign Relations
Venezuela’s GDP shrank by roughly three-quarters between 2014 and 2021, with oil playing a dominant role in the country's economic fortunes.
Venezuela: The Rise and Fall of a Petrostate — Council on Foreign Relations
Since 2014, nearly eight million Venezuelans have emigrated, with about 7.8 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants worldwide as of 2024, from a population of approximately 28 million.
Venezuela: The Rise and Fall of a Petrostate — Council on Foreign Relations
In 2023, the household poverty rate in Venezuela was 82.4%, with 50.5% in extreme poverty.
Household poverty rate in Venezuela 2023 — Statista
As of 2023, approximately 770,000 Venezuelan immigrants lived in the United States, with 48% of those ages 25 and older having a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 35% of all immigrants.
Venezuelan Immigrants in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
How Trump changes the world
"A critical, big-picture take arguing that recent actions — exemplified by the U.S. seizure of a sanctioned tanker off Venezuela — reflect a fast, risky remaking of American foreign policy that pairs aggressive regional militarization with transactional engagements with rivals, sidelining allies and producing deep global uncertainty."
📰 Sources (11)
Seizure of rogue oil tanker off Venezuela signals new U.S. crackdown on shadow fleet
New information:
- Windward analysis shows The Skipper spoofed AIS with an improbable zigzag track near Guyana; it was actually seized ~360 nautical miles to the northwest near Venezuela.
- Experts (Windward, Vortexa) say the operation signals a broader U.S. crackdown on the ‘shadow fleet’ smuggling oil for Venezuela, Russia, and Iran, raising operators’ risk from fines to loss of hulls.
- AP estimates the seized cargo as “tens of millions of dollars” in crude and notes the vessel’s size at 332 meters (1,090 feet).
- Context: OPEC data cited that Venezuela’s oil output has risen ~25% over the last two years, despite sanctions, via dark-fleet tactics.
Why the US could snatch a Venezuelan tanker — and not under ‘wartime’ authority used in cartel strikes
New information:
- A senior administration official told Fox News the sanctions designation and civil forfeiture warrant are the sole legal basis for seizing the Skipper, not armed‑conflict authority.
- AG Pam Bondi said investigators executed a federal court warrant off Venezuela’s coast with Coast Guard assistance, framing the action as straightforward sanctions enforcement.
- Legal expert Julian Ku noted that if the Skipper was stateless or fraudulently flagged, that status would strengthen U.S. authority to seize the vessel on the high seas.
- Article contrasts two frameworks: domestic sanctions/forfeiture for the tanker versus asserted wartime authority for separate maritime strikes on suspected drug‑trafficking boats.
Maduro sings, dances and threatens to 'smash the teeth' of the 'North American empire'
New information:
- Maduro publicly escalated rhetoric at a rally, brandishing Bolívar’s sword and saying Venezuela must be 'ready to smash the teeth of the North American empire.'
- Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry issued a detailed statement calling the tanker seizure 'a brazen robbery' and 'international piracy,' comparing it to the loss of Citgo Petroleum and alleging the U.S. aims to take Venezuelan oil.
- Caracas said it will take complaints to international bodies and urged Venezuelans to remain firm in defense of sovereignty.
- Article notes Trump personally announced the seizure and cites AG Pam Bondi stating the tanker was transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.
Noem says seizure of oil tanker off Venezuelan coast linked to U.S. antidrug efforts
New information:
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem testified that the tanker seizure is linked to the administration’s counterdrug efforts against Maduro’s regime.
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said DOJ obtained a warrant because the vessel was known for carrying sanctioned 'black market' oil and stated the U.S. 'does intend to get the oil.'
- Trump said of the oil aboard: 'Well, we keep it, I guess.'
- Noem claimed the operation prevented 'lethal doses of cocaine' from entering the U.S. (no quantities provided).
- Contextual same‑day steps: the administration imposed sanctions on three of Maduro’s nephews; Kremlin readout said Putin reaffirmed support for Maduro amid rising tensions.
US set to seize tens of millions in Venezuelan oil after tanker interception, White House says
New information:
- White House says The Skipper will be taken to a U.S. port and the U.S. intends to seize the oil, subject to a legal forfeiture process.
- Leavitt says a full investigative team is on the vessel conducting interviews and seizing evidence.
- Cargo specifics refined: tanker loaded ~1.8 million barrels earlier in December and transferred ~200,000 barrels just before seizure.
- Estimated cargo value pegged at roughly $60–$100 million based on current oil prices.
- White House frames actions under Operation Southern Spear and reiterates dual goals: stopping drug flows and enforcing sanctions against Maduro’s regime.
Venezuelan Nobel laureate credits Trump for pressuring Maduro with ‘decisive’ actions
New information:
- Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado publicly linked the tanker seizure and other U.S. measures to a significant weakening of Maduro’s regime.
- She urged foreign governments to move beyond statements and take action to cut off illicit funding to the regime.
- She avoided stating whether she supports a U.S. military intervention in Venezuela.
Venezuela accuses US of 'piracy' after seizing massive oil tanker
New information:
- President Trump publicly called it 'the largest one ever seized' and suggested the U.S. would keep the oil ('I assume we’re going to keep the oil').
- AG Pam Bondi stated on X that a seizure warrant was executed by a joint team including the FBI, HSI, and U.S. Coast Guard with support from the Department of War.
- Bondi released unclassified video showing a helicopter insertion and tactical personnel fast‑roping onto the tanker.
- Venezuela issued a formal communiqué calling the action 'an act of international piracy' and 'blatant theft,' reiterating its sovereignty claims.
Trump says the U.S. has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela
New information:
- Trump publicly confirmed the seizure, calling it the 'largest one ever seized' and saying 'we keep it, I guess.'
- A U.S. official said the Coast Guard led with Navy support, launching the boarding via helicopter from USS Gerald R. Ford under U.S. law-enforcement authority.
- The tanker carried about 2 million barrels of heavy crude; roughly half of the cargo belongs to a Cuban state-run oil importer, per PDVSA documents.
- The vessel departed Venezuela around Dec. 2 and was previously known as M/T Adisa, which was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2022.
- Venezuela’s government condemned the action as 'international piracy' and a theft of national resources.
- Attorney General Pam Bondi posted video showing fast-roping and armed Coast Guard personnel moving through the ship’s superstructure.
Bondi shares heart-pounding footage of US seizing Venezuelan oil tanker in rare action last seen in 2014
New information:
- Navy confirmed to Fox News that 15% of U.S.-deployed Navy ships are currently in the Caribbean region.
- On-the-record quotes amplifying the operation’s goals: FBI Director Kash Patel said efforts to cut off foreign terrorist organizations will continue 'day and night'; DHS Secretary Kristi Noem warned 'there is no place on land or sea' to hide from U.S. enforcement.
- President Trump characterized the tanker as the 'largest one ever seized' and hinted at additional forthcoming actions.
- Article reiterates the recent strike tally (22 maritime strikes; ~87 killed) and notes the administration is weighing potential land operations to increase pressure on Maduro.
- Comparative context: notes the last widely publicized U.S. military seizure of a foreign oil tanker was in 2014 (MV Morning Glory) under President Obama.
What we know about The Skipper, the oil tanker seized by the U.S. near Venezuela
New information:
- Identifies the vessel as The Skipper (formerly Adisa/The Toyo), a 333-meter, 20-year-old tanker sanctioned by Treasury in 2022 for links to an IRGC/Hezbollah oil network.
- Operation specifics: launched around 6 a.m. Wednesday from USS Gerald R. Ford; used two helicopters and a fast-rope boarding by the Coast Guard MSRT with support from 10 Marines and 10 Coast Guard personnel.
- Led by the U.S. Coast Guard under authorities requiring Coast Guard lead; Navy provided support.
- AG Pam Bondi posted a 45-second video on X and said a seizure warrant was executed; she alleged the tanker transported sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.
- Ownership/management details: controlled by Nigeria-based Thomarose Global Ventures LTD; linked to sanctioned Russian magnate Viktor Artemov.