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U.S. Seizes Tanker off Venezuela

File image: U.S. forces conduct an opposed boarding (USN file image)
File image: U.S. forces conduct an opposed boarding (USN file image)

Published Dec 10, 2025 4:14 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

[Breaking] On Wednesday, U.S. forces seized a tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump told reporters. 

"We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela — a large tanker, very large, the largest one ever seized actually," he said. "And other things are happening."

Two U.S. officials confirmed the development to Reuters. The name of the tanker was not disclosed; AIS data shows that there are multiple potential candidates with "shadow fleet" characteristics in the area - one of them stateless and under U.S. sanctions. 

According to Windward CEO Ami Daniel, the U.S. Navy "stopped and seized" a sanctioned oil tanker in international waters off the coast of Venezuela overnight on December 9-10. A U.S. official told ABC News that the U.S. Coast Guard - not the Navy - was responsible for the interdiction. 

The seizure follows an extensive buildup of U.S. forces in the Caribbean, including the arrival of a carrier strike group and an amphibious ready group. In addition, the administration has attacked suspected drug boats coming out of Venezuela and has threatened ground action against Venezuelan forces, including possible CIA covert operations. 

This is a developing story and will be updated.