The U.S. recently seized a 20-year-old oil tanker named The Skipper off the coast of Venezuela. This operation reflected ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The action was announced by President Trump at a White House event. According to military sources, the operation began early on a Wednesday morning just after the tanker left port. The U.S. launched the mission from the USS Gerald R. Ford, an aircraft carrier that has been patrolling the area for weeks.
A specialized team conducted the seizure. It included members of the Coast Guard, Marines, and support from helicopters. Attorney General Pam Bondi shared a short video of the operation, showing armed personnel boarding the vessel. She emphasized that the tanker was involved in transporting oil in violation of U.S. sanctions.
The Skipper was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2022 for its connections to an oil smuggling network that allegedly funds the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah, a group backed by Iran. The tanker was previously known as Adisa and is controlled by Russian oil magnate Viktor Artemov, who is known for evading U.S. restrictions.
Over the years, oil trading networks between Iran and Venezuela have raised alarms in Washington. Both countries are significant petroleum producers, but U.S. sanctions heavily restrict their trading activities. The tanker is reportedly managed by Thomarose Global Ventures LTD and is owned by a firm linked to Artemov.
Interestingly, the government of Guyana stated that the ship was falsely flying its flag, despite not being registered there. Venezuela’s government, on the other hand, condemned the seizure, calling it “international piracy.”
Experts suggest that the move to seize the tanker signals a bold U.S. strategy to crack down on smuggling activities that undermine international sanctions. According to a recent report from the U.S. Treasury, similar operations have increased to combat this issue. In the past year, the U.S. has imposed severe penalties on vessels involved in transporting sanctioned oil.
With the global energy landscape in constant flux, this incident serves as a reminder of the complex relationships within oil production and trading. For more insights on related topics, check out the latest updates from trusted sources like CBS News and The U.S. Treasury Department.
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