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US forces intercept massive crude oil carrier off Venezuela
American military and law enforcement agencies boarded a 333-meter oil tanker in international waters this week, accusing it of transporting sanctioned Venezuelan and Iranian crude as part of a network funding terrorist groups. The operation marks the latest move in Washington's intensifying campaign against Nicolás Maduro's government.
Dramatic boarding captured on video
Footage released by the U.S. Department of Justice shows camouflaged troops fast-roping from helicopters onto the vessel's deck. The video, shared by Attorney General Pam Bondi, depicts armed personnel securing the ship without visible resistance from the crew.
A senior military official told CBS News the tanker had recently departed a Venezuelan port, though its exact location during the seizure remains unclear. The operation involved 20 personnel-10 Marines and 10 Coast Guard members-alongside special operations forces.
The boarding was executed by the Maritime Security and Response Team, a Coast Guard unit specializing in counterterrorism and high-risk maritime law enforcement. Created after the 9/11 attacks, the team is trained for operations like the helicopter-based insertion shown in the footage.
Tanker linked to 'dark fleet' smuggling network
The seized vessel, identified as the Skipper, is a 20-year-old very large crude carrier (VLCC) measuring 333 meters long. Maritime risk firm Vanguard Tech reported the ship had been "spoofing" its location for extended periods, a tactic common among vessels in the so-called "dark fleet" used to evade sanctions.
The Skipper has operated under multiple names, including Toyo and Adisa, and was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2022 for allegedly ferrying Venezuelan oil to generate revenue for Hezbollah and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force. The Treasury accused the ship of participating in an "illicit oil shipping network" supporting foreign terrorist organizations.
Tracking data from MarineTraffic showed the tanker last broadcasting a position near Guyana in late October, though Guyana's Maritime Administration denied the vessel was registered under its flag. The ship was previously spotted near Iran in mid-September, but analysts caution the data may be unreliable due to spoofing.
Cargo valued at over $95 million
The Skipper is believed to have left Venezuela's José oil terminal on December 4 or 5 carrying approximately 1.8 million barrels of heavy crude. Around 200,000 barrels were reportedly offloaded to another vessel before the seizure, leaving an estimated 1.6 million barrels on board.
At current market prices of roughly $61 per barrel, the remaining cargo could be worth more than $95 million. When asked about the oil's fate, President Donald Trump told reporters, "We keep it, I guess... I assume we're going to keep the oil."
Venezuela, home to the world's largest proven oil reserves, produces heavy crude that requires specialized refining. Years of U.S. sanctions and deteriorating infrastructure have crippled the country's ability to export its resources, complicating efforts to monetize its vast reserves.
Venezuela condemns seizure as 'piracy'
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil denounced the operation as "international piracy," accusing the U.S. of seeking to control Venezuela's energy resources. Maduro's government has long alleged that Washington's military presence in the Caribbean-including the deployment of the USS Gerald Ford, the world's largest warship-is part of a broader strategy to oust him.
The Trump administration has framed its actions as part of a counter-narcotics mission, designating two Venezuelan criminal groups-Tren de Aragua and Cartel de los Soles-as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Trump has claimed, without evidence, that Maduro is releasing prisoners and psychiatric patients to migrate to the U.S., a charge Caracas denies.
"For multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations."
Pam Bondi, U.S. Attorney General
Legal and geopolitical fallout
Since September, U.S. forces have conducted over 20 strikes in international waters against vessels suspected of drug trafficking, resulting in more than 80 deaths. The administration argues it is engaged in a "non-international armed conflict" with drug traffickers, whom it labels "narco terrorists." However, legal experts contend the strikes are unlawful, as the designation does not confer legal combatant status on the targets.
The seizure of the Skipper underscores the escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas, with Venezuela's oil industry caught in the crossfire. Analysts warn the standoff could further destabilize global energy markets, particularly if additional shipments are intercepted.
