Dramatic video footage captures the intense moment when US forces conducted a raid on an oil tanker near the Venezuelan coast amid rising tensions between the two nations.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi accused the vessel, referred to as “The Skipper,” of being part of an unlawful oil shipping network that supports foreign terrorist groups. The tanker was reportedly utilized for transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. The video clip, lasting 45 seconds, shows US military helicopters approaching the tanker, followed by troops descending onto the deck using ropes.
The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Coast Guard, and US military collaborated to execute a seizure warrant on the vessel. Bondi emphasized that the operation was conducted safely and securely, with ongoing investigations into the transportation of sanctioned oil.
President Trump confirmed the seizure during a press briefing, highlighting the significant size of the tanker. However, the exact location of the interception remains undisclosed.
This incident is seen as a significant escalation in the tensions between Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The US has stationed a naval force of approximately 15,000 troops near Venezuela in the Caribbean since September, with strikes on suspected drug boats resulting in over 80 fatalities.
Unlike previous actions targeting drug boats, this operation focused on an oil shipment, a critical revenue source for Maduro’s administration. This move follows Trump’s imposition of a 25% tariff on goods imported into the US from nations purchasing oil or gas from Venezuela nine months ago.
Maduro has not yet responded to this latest development. He has consistently denied involvement in drug trafficking and accused the US of using the “war on drugs” as a pretext to seize Venezuela’s oil reserves. The country possesses over 300 billion barrels of oil, comprising approximately 20% of the global supply.
Recently, Trump hinted at potential military strikes on land targets in Venezuela as part of an intensified “war on drugs” in Latin America. While he refrained from mentioning the deployment of US troops into Venezuela, he warned that Maduro’s days in power are limited.