U.S. Forces Seize Large Crude Tanker Off Venezuela; Trump Calls It "Largest Ever Seized"

Dec. 10 — United States authorities seized a large crude oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in a maritime enforcement operation that marks a significant escalation in pressure on the Maduro government.

According to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, on Wednesday, the FBI, Homeland Security, and the United States Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, executed a seizure warrant off the coast of Venezuela for a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. Screengrab via U.S. Attorney General/UPI

Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a late-afternoon post on X that "the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, executed a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran." Bondi added that U.S. officials had sanctioned the vessel years earlier over its "involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations." The government described the action as a "judicial enforcement action on a stateless vessel" that had called at a Venezuelan port.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said the FBI, Homeland Security, Coast Guard and Defense Department executed a seizure warrant off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday for a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. Screengrab via U.S. Attorney General/UPI

U.S. military personnel boarded the tanker by fast-roping from a helicopter, Bloomberg reported — a high-risk boarding technique often used to quickly gain control of ships at sea. Officials said the operation was completed "safely and securely" and that the investigation to prevent transport of sanctioned oil continues.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said the United States years ago sanctioned the oil tanker for transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran and seized it on Wednesday. Screengrab via U.S. Attorney General/UPI

President Donald Trump confirmed the seizure at a White House roundtable, calling it "the largest tanker ever seized" and saying it was taken "for a very good reason." He added that "the appropriate people" would provide further details.

U.S. Navy forces are patrolling the Caribbean now as part of the U.S. effort against Venezuela's leader Nicolas Maduro. File Photo by PO2 Triniti Lersch/U.S. Navy

The seizure comes amid heightened U.S. actions against Venezuela, including sanctions and public accusations that President Nicolás Maduro and some regime-aligned officials are involved in narcotrafficking. U.S. officials have designated the so-called Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Sun) as a foreign terrorist organization, alleging links between the group and senior military and government figures.

Defense officials have moved additional naval assets to the Caribbean Sea. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a carrier strike group to join other U.S. Navy vessels in the region as the U.S. conducts interdictions and targets small craft allegedly carrying illicit drugs from Venezuela and nearby countries. The visible U.S. presence and this seizure are expected to deter shippers and oil firms from loading Venezuelan crude.

Industry analysts reacted quickly. Matt Smith of Kpler told CNBC that "shippers will likely be much more cautious and hesitant about loading Venezuelan crude going forward." Jorge Leon, head of geopolitical analysis at Rystad Energy, described the move to Bloomberg as "a clear escalation from financial sanctions to physical interdiction," saying it "raises the stakes for Caracas and anyone facilitating its exports."

Separately, the administration has advised international airlines to exercise caution when approaching Venezuela, a warning that has led several carriers to suspend flights to the country.

Note: Bondi's post on X used the phrase "Department of War." That wording is unusual in contemporary U.S. government usage and drew attention on social media; officials have not clarified whether this was a transcription error or intentional phrasing.