WASHINGTON, Dec 12: The US has announced new sanctions on six more vessels that officials say were moving Venezuelan oil. This comes a day after American forces seized a tanker near Venezuela. Washington also targeted several relatives of President Nicolás Maduro and companies tied to his rule, which the US labels illegitimate. Caracas called the ship seizure an act of international piracy, a reaction noted at the end of this update, according to the BBC.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the confiscated tanker, the Skipper, had been part of illegal oil operations. She added that it would be taken to a US port after the legal process is complete. The incident marks a sharp rise in Washington’s pressure effort on Maduro, an approach that has included previous deadly strikes on boats accused of carrying narcotics from Venezuela. US naval activity in the wider region has increased during recent months, the BBC reported.
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American officials say Venezuela has allowed drug shipments to reach US territory. Caracas rejects the claim and argues that the US is trying to seize the country’s natural resources. Maduro said Venezuela would never accept becoming an oil colony. Leavitt responded that the US goal is to stop narcotics from entering the country and to enforce sanctions tied to corruption and illicit trade. She avoided commenting on future seizures of oil tankers linked to Venezuela, the BBC stated.
Leavitt also said the administration plans to take possession of the oil on the Skipper once all legal steps are completed. She dismissed concerns over Russian President Vladimir Putin calling Maduro earlier in the day to show Moscow’s support. The press secretary said the US intended to continue pressuring Maduro’s circle, a statement that appeared in several BBC reports.
Later, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced sanctions on three nephews of Maduro’s wife, along with several companies and ships. He said the move was aimed at curbing Maduro’s control. He posted on X saying the administration was holding the leader’s network responsible for ongoing abuses, the BBC noted.
On Wednesday the White House released video of the raid. Soldiers in camouflage dropped from a helicopter onto the Skipper and moved across its deck with guns raised. Maduro condemned the action and accused the US of kidnapping the crew and stealing the vessel. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello called the US murderers and pirates, echoing the Venezuelan government’s broader reaction, according to the BBC.
CBS previously reported that the Skipper had been sanctioned in 2022 for alleged involvement in oil smuggling tied to Hezbollah and Iran’s Quds Force. In the days before the raid, the US expanded its military presence in the Caribbean Sea using thousands of personnel and the USS Gerald Ford, which was positioned close to Venezuela, the BBC reported.
