US Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker, Escalating Pressure on Maduro Regime
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has filed a complaint to legally accept ownership of a sanctioned tanker, the Skipper, and nearly 2 million barrels of petroleum seized off the coast of Venezuela in December, marking a continued effort by the Trump administration to assert control over the country’s oil sector following the capture of Nicolás Maduro.1,3
Escalating Campaign Against Venezuelan Oil
This action represents the first formal complaint filed by the U.S. To initiate the legal process of taking control of one of at least 10 oil tankers intercepted by American authorities since late last year.1 The U.S. Alleges that Venezuela has been utilizing a “shadow fleet” of vessels with false flags to smuggle illicit crude oil into global supply chains.1
Department of Justice Statement
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that, under President Trump’s leadership, the practice of secretly financing regimes considered threats to the United States has ended.1 She affirmed the Department of Justice’s commitment to using all available legal tools to dismantle operations that violate U.S. Laws and contribute to global instability.1
Seizure of the Skipper and Broader Strategy
The seizure of the Skipper in December was the initial step in a series of similar actions, signifying a significant escalation in the Trump administration’s campaign to pressure Maduro by disrupting access to oil revenue, a critical component of Venezuela’s economy.1 Following Maduro’s arrest in January, several vessels departed the Venezuelan coast, despite a U.S. Quarantine on sanctioned oil tankers, and some were intercepted by U.S. Forces as far away as the Indian Ocean.1
US Aims for Control of Venezuelan Oil Industry
The Trump administration has expressed its intention to control the production, refining, and global distribution of Venezuelan oil, as well as oversee the flow of revenue.1 The U.S. Has as well begun to lift broad sanctions to allow foreign companies to operate in Venezuela, aiming to revitalize the struggling oil industry.1
Legal Process and Allegations
A federal judge in Washington D.C. Must approve the U.S. Government’s request to permanently seize the Skipper and its cargo, potentially allowing the oil to be sold.1 The Justice Department contends that the tanker transported oil from Iran and Venezuela worldwide, employing false flags to conceal its illicit activities and generate revenue for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which the U.S. Has designated as a foreign terrorist organization.1
Department of Justice Comments
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, stated that the coordinated efforts of prosecutors and law enforcement partners have removed a “ghost tanker” from the seas, which had secretly moved illicit oil from Iran and Venezuela globally.1 He emphasized that these actions are crucial for enhancing safety in the U.S. And worldwide by disrupting the flow of funds to foreign terrorist organizations.1
1 NBC News
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