U.S. Seizes Oil Tanker Off Venezuelan Coast Amid Sanctions Enforcement

On December 10, 2025, U.S. forces seized the oil tanker Skipper off the coast of Venezuela, marking the first such action since sanctions were imposed in 2019. The vessel, carrying approximately 1.8 million barrels of Venezuela's Merey heavy crude, had departed from Venezuela's main oil port of Jose between December 4 and 5.

The operation was conducted under a federal warrant issued on November 26, which was set to expire on the day of the seizure. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the seizure, stating it was part of efforts to prevent the transport of sanctioned oil. The Skipper had been sanctioned in 2022 for allegedly participating in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations.

Venezuela's government condemned the seizure, describing it as "an act of international piracy." The incident has led to a significant decline in Venezuela's oil exports, with many tankers stranded in Venezuelan waters due to fears of further U.S. confiscations. Only Chevron, which holds special U.S. authorization, has been able to continue crude shipments from Venezuela.

The Skipper is now en route to Houston, where it will offload its cargo onto smaller ships. This seizure underscores the escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela, as Washington intensifies its pressure on President Nicolás Maduro's government through sanctions and military presence in the region.