US Seizes Venezuelan Tanker Skipper, Intensifying Sanctions Enforcement

• The US military recently seized the Venezuela-linked oil tanker "Skipper" in the Caribbean.
• The seizure marks a sharp escalation in US efforts to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and disrupt his government's oil revenue stream.
• The "Skipper" was previously blacklisted in 2022 for carrying crude linked to sanctioned networks and engaged in illicit activities like AIS manipulation.
• The tanker was carrying nearly 2 million barrels of heavy crude, with a significant portion destined for a Cuban state-operated oil importer.
• The US plans further crackdowns, monitoring other tankers linked to Venezuela, Iran, and Russia, signaling a stronger deterrent against "shadow fleet" operations.

Why It Matters: US seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker escalates pressure, threatening illicit oil trade globally.