The U.S. seized the oil tanker M/T Skipper off Venezuela just as a court-authorised warrant was set to expire, court documents show. The warrant, signed by Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui, authorised the seizure through Dec. 10, 2025, and marks the first U.S. confiscation of a Venezuelan oil cargo under sanctions enacted since 2019. The Skipper reportedly left José after loading about 1.8 million barrels of Merey crude; U.S. officials say it moved sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. The seizure has been condemned by Caracas and intensifies regional tensions amid recent U.S. strikes and a military buildup in the Southern Caribbean.
U.S. Seizes Tanker M/T Skipper Off Venezuela As Court Warrant Nears Expiry, Filing Shows
A satellite image shows the very large crude carrier (VLCC) Skipper, which British maritime risk management group Vanguard said was believed to have been seized on December 10, as well as other vessels, off Port Jose, Venezuela, November 14, 2025. 2025 PLANET LABS PBC/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT VERIFICATION: The ship on the right was verified as Skipper from apparatus, painted lines and pipework on the deck along with the configuration of the bridge which matched U.S. Attorney General footage showing tanker being seized. Those visual indicators also matched file imagery of the ship. Commodity analyst Kpler also used satellite imagery and Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to locate it off Port Jose in November, 2025.
The U.S. government executed the seizure of the oil tanker M/T Skipper off Venezuela’s coast on Wednesday just as a judge-signed warrant was about to expire, a court document unsealed on Friday shows.
The warrant, signed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui on Nov. 26, authorised the seizure through Dec. 10, 2025. Officials say the action is the first U.S. confiscation of a Venezuelan oil cargo under sanctions that have been in place since 2019.
Details of the Seizure
U.S. authorities say the Skipper departed Venezuela’s main oil port of José between Dec. 4 and 5 after taking on roughly 1.8 million barrels of Venezuela’s Merey heavy crude. The U.S. government has asserted the vessel was used to transport sanctioned oil from both Venezuela and Iran.
A satellite image shows the very large crude carrier (VLCC) Skipper, which British maritime risk management group Vanguard said was believed to have been seized on December 10, as well as other vessels, off Port Jose, Venezuela, November 14, 2025. 2025 PLANET LABS PBC/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT VERIFICATION: The ship on the right was verified as Skipper from apparatus, painted lines and pipework on the deck along with the configuration of the bridge which matched U.S. Attorney General footage showing tanker being seized. Those visual indicators also matched file imagery of the ship. Commodity analyst Kpler also used satellite imagery and Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to locate it off Port Jose in November, 2025.
FBI Director Kash Patel said: "The seizure of this vessel highlights our successful efforts to impose costs on the governments of Venezuela and Iran."
Legal Paperwork and Secrecy
Although the warrant itself was unsealed, the accompanying affidavit remains redacted and Judge Faruqui said other related documents will remain under seal temporarily. Few operational details have been released publicly.
Regional Implications
Venezuela condemned the seizure, calling it an escalation in already high tensions with Washington. Reuters sources said U.S. authorities are preparing to intercept additional ships suspected of carrying Venezuelan oil in violation of sanctions.
The action comes amid increased U.S. activity in the region, including recent strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking —operations that have drawn criticism from some U.S. lawmakers and legal experts— and a U.S. military buildup in and around the Southern Caribbean. President Donald Trump has publicly suggested the possibility of U.S. military intervention in Venezuela.
(Reporting by Jasper Ward; editing by Diane Craft)
