In a dramatic maritime operation, United States forces have intercepted and seized a massive oil tanker in international waters off the Venezuelan coast. Recently released footage depicts special operations troops rapidly descending onto the vessel’s deck via helicopter in a precisely coordinated maneuver.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi provided official justification for the seizure, identifying the vessel as the ‘Skipper’ and confirming it had been under prolonged sanctions for its role in an illicit oil-shipping network. Federal authorities allege the operation has been funneling substantial financial resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations.
The Venezuelan government issued an immediate and vehement condemnation, characterizing the interception as ‘blatant international piracy.’ An official statement from Caracas accused Washington of ulterior motives, asserting that ‘the true rationale behind sustained aggression against Venezuela has been conclusively revealed—not migration, narcotics, or democratic principles, but rather control over our natural resources, petroleum, and energy reserves.’
Military sources revealed to CBS News that the operation was launched from the USS Gerald Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier currently deployed in the Caribbean region. This seizure occurs amid a noticeable escalation of U.S. naval presence in Caribbean waters, with American forces having conducted over twenty interdiction operations against vessels allegedly involved in narcotics trafficking in recent months.
When questioned about the disposition of the confiscated crude oil, former President Donald Trump offered a succinct response: ‘We retain custody, presumably.’