US moves to legally control tanker and 2M barrels of oil seized off Venezuela’s coast in December

The U.S. government is seeking to legally seize a Venezuelan oil tanker and its cargo of nearly 1.8 million barrels of crude oil, marking a significant escalation in Washington’s enforcement of sanctions and control over Venezuelan energy shipments.

What’s Happening

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil forfeiture complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to take ownership of the motor tanker Skipper and about 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil it was carrying. The tanker was seized on the high seas in December 2025 by U.S. forces.

According to the complaint:

• The oil was supplied by Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), the Venezuelan state oil company.

• U.S. authorities allege the tanker and cargo were part of operations that circumvented U.S. sanctions and provided material support to sanctioned entities, including Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

If a federal judge approves the forfeiture, the United States would permanently take control of both the vessel and the oil cargo, allowing the U.S. to keep or sell the oil through approved channels.

Why It Matters

This legal action is part of a broader U.S. campaign to enforce sanctions against Venezuelan oil shipments believed to be helping circumvent restrictions or benefiting groups Washington considers hostile.

The tanker was reportedly involved in sanctions-evasion schemes that included false flags and concealed locations to disguise the movement of crude, according to court filings.

The move also comes amid an intensified U.S. pressure campaign — including the recent arrest by U.S. forces of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro — aimed at weakening Maduro’s regime and restricting access to Venezuela’s oil revenues.

Broader Context

U.S. operations have intercepted multiple Venezuelan-linked oil tankers in recent months, with at least ten interdictions reported since late 2025. Some of those vessels were later released, while others remain subject to legal review.

Critics of the approach argue that such seizures test international maritime law and may strain diplomatic relations, while proponents say the actions cut off financial lifelines for sanctioned regimes and groups.

Current Status

The forfeiture complaint is now under review by the federal judiciary. If approved, it would allow the U.S. to take title to both the tanker and its cargo — a major development in tensions over Venezuelan oil exports and sanction enforcement.