US EditionUS Moves to Legally Control Tanker and 2M Barrels of Oil Seized Off Venezuela's Coast in December
The U.S. Justice Department seeks to control 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan crude and the tanker Skipper to disrupt Maduro's regime and illicit oil smuggling, marking the first legal claim in a series.
- The Justice Department filed a civil complaint to take legal ownership of the sanctioned tanker Skipper and nearly 2 million barrels of petroleum seized off the coast of Venezuela in December.
- The administration's oil strategy aims to control Venezuela's oil production after Maduro's arrest last month in a U.S. raid and his transfer to New York to face drug trafficking charges.
- U.S. officials allege a `ghost tanker` moved oil from Iran and Venezuela using false flags, providing revenue to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, according to Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva.
- A Washington judge must decide on the government’s bid to own the oil so it can be sold, while officials say this move aims to disrupt millions flowing to foreign terrorist organizations and DOJ leaders pledge legal action.
- As part of larger operations, U.S. forces have intercepted at least 10 oil tankers since late last year, tracked some vessels to the Indian Ocean, while lifting broad sanctions to allow foreign companies in Venezuela.
58 Articles
58 Articles
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States began procedures for the definitive confiscation of the oil tanker Skipper, which was seized in December last year, as well as that of the 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan crude it was transporting. These were supplied by Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) and are allegedly linked to Iran. Part of that shipment was destined for Cuba. “The Skipper and its cargo are confiscatable,” …
DOJ Sues for Ownership of Oil Tanker That Allegedly Violated Venezuela Sanctions
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Feb. 27 it is suing for forfeiture of the seized motor tanker Skipper, which allegedly violated American sanctions by carrying Venezuelan and Iranian oil. The United States seized the vessel in the Caribbean Sea in December 2025, along with its cargo of 1.8 million barrels of crude oil, under a judicially authorized seizure warrant. The United States began seizing ships in December 2025 to target the so-ca…
The U.S. Government took a further judicial step to keep an oil vessel and its cargo of Venezuelan crude, considering that the operation would have benefited Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard and its Qods Force, an organization included in the U.S. list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
Daily on Energy: Quote of the week, a closer look at the home appliance bill, and some oil news
WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY: Good afternoon, Daily on Energy readers. We made it to Friday! We hope you all get a chance to enjoy some of this nice weather this weekend, especially after several weeks of frigid temperatures. In today’s letter, we take a look at the Trump administration’s effort to legally own an oil tanker and nearly 2 million barrels of crude seized off the coast of Venezuela last December. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is now s…
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