Name: New details on seized oil tanker off Venezuela coast
Uploaded: 2025-12-12T00:52:15.391Z
Duration: 2 min 18 s
Description: An oil tanker seized off the coast of Venezuela is now headed to a U.S. port. The Trump administration is planning more seizures, sources say, but not without criticism.

An oil tanker seized off the coast of Venezuela is now headed to a U.S. port. The Trump administration is planning more seizures, sources say, but not without criticism.

Washington

US authorities have seized a large oil tanker, the Skipper, which was reportedly carrying millions of dollars' worth of oil and is now en route to a US port. The seizure follows new sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department on several family members of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and six oil tankers accused of supporting Maduro's regime.

The tanker was identified as part of a 'dark fleet' transferring sanctioned fuel at sea, with officials indicating plans for further seizures. The action has drawn criticism from both Venezuelan officials, who called it piracy, and US lawmakers questioning the administration's motives. Meanwhile, Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Carina Machado, a prominent critic of Maduro, was evacuated from Venezuela and reunited with her family in Norway after missing the award ceremony.

New details on seized oil tanker off Venezuela coast

The Trump administration turned up the heat on Venezuela's dictator yet again today. The Treasury Department put new sanctions on several family members of Nicolás Maduro, as well as six oil tankers it says have been used to fuel Maduro's narco-terrorist regime. U.S. forces yesterday seized a large oil tanker, and Charlie Dagada has the update. New details tonight about the tanker seized Wednesday when U.S. commandos boarded the ship carrying millions of dollars worth of oil. That ship, the Skipper, is now headed to a U.S. port. It was among a group of tankers CBS News saw last July near Malaysia, part of a so-called dark fleet that transfers sanctioned fuel at sea. Sources say the administration plans more seizures. We're not going to stand by and watch sanctioned vessels sail the seas with black market oil, the proceeds of which will fuel narco-terrorism of rogue and illegitimate regimes around the world. Nevada Democratic Senator Jackie Rosen disputes the administration's motives. The president is trying to get us into a war. What is the purpose of this war? Seems to be, does he want the oil? Does he want to stop it? We don't know what he wants. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro called it an act of piracy, while his top critic, Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Carina Machado, speaking from Norway, called Venezuela a criminal organization. This has turned Venezuela into the criminal hub of the Americas. Machado made it to Norway after being evacuated out of Venezuela, where she was living in hiding in a daring 16-hour secret mission. According to The Wall Street Journal, she wore a wig and a disguise and passed 10 military checkpoints. Then, a harrowing 13-hour boat ride, captained by former special ops soldier Brian Stern, who spoke with CBS's Lilia Luciano. It was dangerous. It was scary. The sea conditions were ideal for us. That's why it was advantageous to us. The higher the waves, the harder it is for radar to see. That's how it works. Machado was trying to get to Norway in time to pick up her Nobel Peace Prize, but missed the ceremony yesterday and her daughter picked it up on her behalf. But Machado was reunited with her kids for the first time in two years.

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