U.S. authorities have unsealed a warrant for an oil tanker seized off the coast of Venezuela, a move that Caracas has denounced as “international piracy.” The vessel, formerly known as the Adisa and now called the Skipper, was taken under U.S. control in a dramatic raid earlier this week. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, the tanker was used to transport sanctioned oil as part of an “oil shipping network supporting Hezbollah” and a unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard. The U.S. Coast Guard carried out the seizure on Wednesday, following a warrant signed by a magistrate judge on November 25.
The Treasury Department has also imposed sanctions on relatives of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and on six companies involved in shipping the country’s oil. The FBI has said it will continue to enforce U.S. sanctions and cut off adversaries from financial markets and critical technology. The seized tanker is expected to dock in Galveston, Texas, where the crew will be released upon arrival. The United States intends to seize the oil on board; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the country will not stand by while sanctioned vessels sail with black‑market oil, whose proceeds she claimed would fuel “narco‑terrorism” by rogue and illegitimate regimes worldwide.
Venezuela’s foreign ministry strongly condemned the seizure, calling it “blatant theft” and an act of “international piracy.” President Maduro vowed to secure all ships to guarantee the free trade of Venezuelan oil around the world. The United States has been increasing pressure on Venezuela in recent months, including a major naval buildup in the region and deadly strikes on alleged drug‑trafficking boats. This episode is part of broader tensions between the two nations, with the U.S. accusing Maduro of leading a “narco‑terrorist” organization and offering a $50 million reward for information leading to his capture. The U.S. alleges that Maduro’s hold on power is illegitimate and that he stole Venezuela’s July 2024 election, while Maduro claims the U.S. seeks regime change and aims to seize Venezuela’s oil reserves. The seizure of the oil tanker therefore carries significant implications for the ongoing rivalry between the United States and Venezuela.
Comments are closed for this story.