Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Dec 11: The United States has seized a crude oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday, marking a dramatic escalation in Washington’s pressure campaign against the Nicolás Maduro regime.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said, “As you probably know, we've just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela. Largest one ever seized, actually. And other things are happening.” He later added, “I assume we’re going to keep the oil” from the ship.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the FBI, along with multiple federal agencies and support from the Pentagon, executed a seizure warrant on the vessel, which was allegedly transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. Bondi released a video on X showing U.S. helicopters hovering above the tanker as American service members descended by rope to board it.
Bondi said the ship had been sanctioned for years due to its role in an illicit global oil-shipping network tied to foreign terrorist organisations. “Our investigation alongside the Department of Homeland Security to prevent the transport of sanctioned oil continues,” she added.
According to sources quoted by Bloomberg, the seized cargo belonged to a businessman with close ties to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and the tanker was reportedly en route to Cuba.
The operation comes amid a months-long military buildup by the United States around Venezuelan waters, as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to push Maduro from power. U.S. Southern Command and the Pentagon declined comment, directing queries to the White House.
Meanwhile, U.S. military operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific have resulted in 22 strikes on vessels, killing at least 87 people — including Venezuelans — in actions critics say were carried out without congressional approval and amount to extrajudicial killings.
Trump has consistently accused Maduro of leading a criminal enterprise known as the Cartel de los Soles. Experts, however, describe it not as a drug cartel but as a loose network of corruption involving elements of the Venezuelan security forces.
Maduro and several senior officials were indicted by the U.S. in 2020 on drug trafficking and corruption charges. Washington has imposed sanctions on Venezuela for nearly two decades, and late last month designated the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organisation, enabling sweeping sanctions against associated entities.
In July, the Trump administration reversed an earlier decision that would have barred U.S. oil giant Chevron from operating in Venezuela.