Name: Video shows U.S. seizure of oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela
Uploaded: 2025-12-11T14:56:30.564Z
Duration: 2 min 32 s
Description: Video shows members of an elite Coast Guard unit approaching an oil tanker by helicopter and rappelling down to the ship, which they seized after it left a Venezuelan port on Wednesday. The tanker was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for alleged ties to terrorist groups.

Video shows members of an elite Coast Guard unit approaching an oil tanker by helicopter and rappelling down to the ship, which they seized after it left a Venezuelan port on Wednesday. The tanker was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for alleged ties to terrorist groups.

Caracas

The U.S. Coast Guard carried out a military operation to seize a Venezuelan oil tanker, the Skipper, off the coast of Venezuela. The operation involved American forces descending from helicopters and taking control of the vessel without resistance, as part of a broader U.S. campaign to pressure Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.

U.S. officials stated the tanker was sanctioned for alleged ties to terrorist groups and for illegally transporting oil from Venezuela and Iran. The Venezuelan government condemned the seizure, calling it theft and international piracy, while U.S. officials described it as part of efforts to combat drug trafficking and target Venezuela's oil revenue.

Video shows U.S. seizure of oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela

A dramatic military operation by the U.S. Coast Guard to seize a Venezuelan oil tanker off that country's coast. Attorney General Pam Bondi shared the video, this video here, of American forces descending on the ship from helicopters, taking it without firing a shot. Guns drawn, though. It's the latest step in a pressure campaign on Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro. Charlie Daggett has more now from Washington. Charlie, good morning. Morning, Tony. Venezuela produces nearly one million barrels of oil each day, despite U.S. sanctions, and has the largest proven crude oil reserves worldwide. This tanker seizure is new territory for the U.S. and signals an effort to go after one of Venezuela's largest revenue sources. It's a dramatic escalation in the Caribbean. Approaching by helicopter and rappelling down to an oil tanker, video shows members from an elite Coast Guard unit seize the ship with weapons drawn and no resistance just after it left a Venezuelan port Wednesday. Largest one ever seized, actually. The tanker, called a skipper, was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for alleged ties to terrorist groups, including Hezbollah. U.S. officials say it was being used to illegally transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran for years. It was seized for a very good reason. Wednesday marks the first tanker seizure since the U.S. began a costly military buildup in the Caribbean, which includes the deployment of the USS Ford aircraft carrier and at least 22 strikes on alleged drug boats in the region. The Trump administration has said the operation is to combat drug trafficking. This week, the president issued a warning to Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, who has been charged with narco-terrorism in the U.S. You want to see him out? These days are numbered. Can you rule out an American ground invasion? I don't want to rule in or out. I don't talk about it. But Maduro alleges the pressure campaign is trying to push him out of office so the U.S. can control Venezuela's extensive oil reserves. President Trump was asked what the U.S. plans to do with the oil on board the tanker. I guess soon we're going to keep the oil. Venezuela's government called the seizure a blatant theft and an act of international piracy at a rally in Caracas yesterday. Maduro called for an end to, quote, the illegal and brutal interventionism by the U.S. Gail? All right, Charlie. Thank you very much.

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