Name: U.S. seizes oil tanker off Venezuela coast
Uploaded: 2025-12-11T01:01:33.456Z
Duration: 2 min 42 s
Description: The U.S. military seized a large oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the ship had been used to violate sanctions on oil from Venezuela and Iran.

The U.S. military seized a large oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the ship had been used to violate sanctions on oil from Venezuela and Iran.

Washington

The United States military seized a large oil tanker, identified as the Skipper, off the coast of Venezuela, citing violations of sanctions on Venezuelan and Iranian oil. The operation, involving special forces, the Coast Guard, and Marines from the USS Ford, was conducted without resistance and no crew was visible on board.

This action marks the first U.S. seizure of Venezuelan oil shipments, which are a major source of revenue for the country. The Trump administration has intensified its pressure campaign against President Nicolas Maduro, who faces U.S. charges of narco-terrorism, and has not ruled out further actions, including additional tanker seizures.

U.S. seizes oil tanker off Venezuela coast

Good evening. I'm Maurice Dubois. I'm John Dickerson this time It was a much bigger boat the u.s. Military today seized a large oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela Attorney General Pam Bondi says the ship had been used to violate sanctions on oil from Venezuela and Iran This comes of course after u.s. Forces on orders from President Trump have taken out more than 20 Suspected drug boats near Venezuela since September killing nearly 90 people the president is now turning up the heat on Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro who's been charged with narco-terrorism in the United States. Mr Trump hinted that the seizure of the tanker is part of an expanding pressure campaign and Charlie Daggett leads off with the details Charlie The administration has this massive military presence in the Caribbean. They've taken out the suspected drug boats They've sanctioned the Maduro regime, but they had not gone after the oil Venezuela's main source of revenue until now Video of the seizure shows Helicopters approaching the tanker called the skipper ropes fall and the special operations forces are seen repelling onto the ship with weapons drawn They took over the tanker without any resistance. No crew could be seen in the footage It's the latest move in the administration's pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as you probably know we've just seized a Tanker on the coast of Venezuela large tanker very much Largest one ever seized actually and Other things are happening Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world producing around 1 million barrels a day much of it under US sanctions President Trump was asked what the US plans to do with the oil on board the tanker I guess so we're gonna keep the The mission also included members of the Coast Guard and the Marines who launched from the USS Ford aircraft carrier now based in the region It comes one day after President Trump warned that Maduro's days are numbered adding that he is not ruled out a land invasion Maduro did not comment on the seizure today, but at a rally in Caracas He demanded an end to the quote illegal and brutal interventionism by the US The Trump administration has accused Maduro of running one of the country's drug cartels and has a 50 million dollar reward out for any information leading to his capture Sources tell CBS News a tanker just left port in Venezuela when it was seized the value of the seized oil is in the millions Of dollars the administration those sources tell us is considering taking more tankers

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