The United States has seized a large crude oil tanker operating near Venezuela, a dramatic move that Washington says targets an illicit shipping network tied to sanctioned Venezuelan and Iranian oil. President Donald Trump confirmed the operation, calling the vessel “the largest tanker ever seized,” but offered few details on the legal or strategic basis for the action.
Footage released on X showed US agents boarding the tanker from a helicopter, securing the deck, and taking control without resistance.
Officials described the vessel, named Skipper, as part of a scheme to move sanctioned oil that supported foreign militant groups. The tanker was loaded with Venezuelan oil and had allegedly been linked to Iranian shipments.
Why Washington Says It Acted
US officials say the operation took place in international waters and was conducted without any injuries. The tanker had been headed toward Cuba before its cargo was expected to be sold through
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