What we know about US seizure of oil tanker off Venezuela

December 11, 2025

The US government seized a Venezuelan crude oil tanker called the Skipper off Venezuela's coast in a military operation involving helicopters, Marines, Coast Guard members, and special forces. The US claims the vessel, which was carrying approximately 1. 6 million barrels of heavy crude oil worth around $95 million, has been part of an illegal shipping network supporting terrorist organizations including Hezbollah and Iran's Revolutionary Guard.

Who is affected

Nicolás Maduro's Venezuelan government
The crew of the seized tanker Skipper (though not visible in footage)
Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (alleged beneficiaries of the oil smuggling)
Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA
US taxpayers (who will potentially receive the oil proceeds)
Two Venezuelan criminal groups designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations: Tren de Aragua and Cartel de los Soles

What action is being taken

The US Coast Guard, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and Department of Defence are executing a seizure warrant on the tanker
The Trump administration is deploying 15,000 troops and various warships to the Caribbean
US forces are carrying out strikes in international waters on boats alleged to be carrying drugs (more than 20 strikes since early September)
The US is designating Venezuelan criminal groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations

Why it matters

This seizure matters because it represents a significant escalation in US-Venezuela tensions and demonstrates the Trump administration's willingness to use military force in its pressure campaign against Maduro. Venezuela possesses the world's largest known crude oil reserves, making control of these resources geopolitically significant. The action also reflects the US administration's broader strategy of combating drug trafficking and immigration, which it links to the Venezuelan government. The legal controversy surrounding these military operations—with experts questioning whether strikes on "narco terrorists" are lawful—raises concerns about international law and the boundaries of military intervention.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC