US Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker, Imposes New Sanctions on Maduro's Inner Circle

The United States has intensified its pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by seizing an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast and imposing sanctions on his relatives and associated businesses. The seized vessel, identified as the Skipper, was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies while allegedly transporting sanctioned oil.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the U.S. intends to seize the oil aboard the tanker, stating, "The vessel will go to a U.S. port and the United States does intend to seize the oil. However, there is a legal process for the seizure of that oil, and that legal process will be followed."

In addition to the seizure, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions targeting three of Maduro's nephews, six vessels shipping Venezuelan oil, a businessman affiliated with Maduro, and six shipping companies involved in transporting Venezuelan oil. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remarked, "Nicolas Maduro and his criminal associates in Venezuela are flooding the United States with drugs that are poisoning the American people."

Venezuela's government condemned the seizure, describing it as "a blatant robbery and an act of international piracy."

The Skipper, previously sanctioned by the U.S. in 2022 for its alleged role in smuggling Iranian oil, was reportedly en route to Cuba with a cargo of Venezuelan crude.

This action is part of a broader U.S. strategy to curb illicit oil shipments and drug trafficking linked to the Maduro regime. The Trump administration has conducted over 20 strikes on alleged drug boats since September in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.

The seizure and new sanctions underscore the escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela, as the U.S. continues to apply economic and legal pressures on Maduro's government.