In a significant maritime operation, United States forces have intercepted and seized a large crude oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on December 10th. The vessel, identified as the Motor Tanker SKIPPER (ex-ADISA) with IMO Number 9304667, was allegedly transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran according to US authorities.
The operation was confirmed by US President Donald Trump during a White House meeting, where he characterized it as ‘the largest tanker ever seized’ and hinted at additional undisclosed developments. US Attorney General Pamela Bondi subsequently revealed through social media that multiple agencies including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Coast Guard executed the seizure warrant as part of ongoing efforts against illicit oil shipping networks.
Complicating the situation, the Maritime Administration Department of Guyana (MARAD) disclosed that the seized vessel had been ‘falsely flying’ the Guyanese flag in international waters despite not being registered in the country. MARAD’s statement expressed concern about an ‘unacceptable trend’ of unauthorized use of the Guyana flag and pledged to collaborate with international partners to address such violations.
The seizure occurs against the backdrop of increased US military presence in the Southern Caribbean, which the Trump administration justifies as part of counter-narco-terrorism operations. Meanwhile, the Maduro-led government in Venezuela maintains that US actions represent attempts to control the nation’s natural resources rather than legitimate security concerns, consistently denying involvement in drug trafficking activities.