# USA seizes oil tanker off of the coast of Venezuela **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 10, 2025, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605 "2025-12-10T21:34:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/1 "2025-12-10T21:34:29Z")
Don’t know where to put this. But this is another act of war/piracy. [https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/10/us-seizes-venezuelan-oil-tanker-00685289](https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/10/us-seizes-venezuelan-oil-tanker-00685289) ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/2 "2025-12-10T21:35:59Z")
~~Nixon~~ Trump: Well, when ~~the president~~ America does it … that means that it is not illegal. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/3 "2025-12-10T21:50:13Z")
Almost certainly because he does not want folks talking about the Epstein files, and his relationship to him. Some one MUST have a clean copy of those files. I bet Putin does. Release them! How much is Trump paying you to keep them hidden? ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/4 "2025-12-10T21:54:12Z")
He’s now the Pirate King: [[Album] imgur.com ![](https://i.imgur.com/O5OK92v.png?fb "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/a/ZvoadcM) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/5 "2025-12-10T22:16:28Z")
He’s above the law, and has the SCOTUS to back him up. They all need impeached and imprisoned. We cannot allow this to continue. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/6 "2025-12-10T22:20:23Z")
Wait, seized? Without sinking it? They have the capability to do that? Who knew? ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/7 "2025-12-10T22:25:10Z")
**Moderating:** This thread is in an awkward place between breaking news, P&E speculation, and of course some traditional griping. After review with the OP, I’m leaving it in P&E for the moment, with the intent that discussion be on the details, legality or lack thereof, and speculation on the causes such as @enipla’s follow up comment: > [@enipla](#): > > Almost certainly because he does not want folks talking about the Epstein files, and his relationship to him. If this gets _too_ heated, due to the severity of the incident and possibilities of escalation, we may be headed Pit-ward. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/8 "2025-12-10T22:38:02Z")
I don’t know how you would seize an oil tanker without boarding. It takes ~ miles to stop one when the captain is in control. Trump says it was done by the US Coast Guard. The tanker was on it’s way to Cuba. WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/9 "2025-12-10T22:38:58Z")
I assume one could seize it by simply giving it radio instructions, “This is the US Navy, comply or else,” just like how fighter jets can order an airliner to follow them to an airport, etc. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/10 "2025-12-10T22:39:46Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Wait, seized? Without sinking it? They have the capability to do that? > > Who knew? A really, really big net. I have know idea what’s going on here. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/11 "2025-12-10T22:42:15Z")
Seized control via helicopter. > **[Live updates: Trump says US has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela](https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-12-10-2025?version=1765405579866)** > > President Donald Trump said Wednesday the U.S. has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela and unveiled his gold card visa aimed at keeping foreign talent. On whose order? To what end? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/12 "2025-12-10T22:43:25Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I assume one could seize it by simply giving it radio instructions, “This is the US Navy, comply or else,” just like how fighter jets can order an airliner to follow them to an airport, etc. I’m sure. But would the Navy or Coast Guard follow yet another illegal order? I know people in the Navy, and the Guard. I hope that I’m right that they wouldn’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2025, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/13 "2025-12-10T22:45:10Z")
He sinks a few more ships, it’s true, than a well-bred monarch ought to do… ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/14 "2025-12-11T00:23:37Z")
The administration claim is something like this: this particular ship has for years been under sanction by the US for doing some kind of nefarious trading in oil of which the US does not approve. Such as helping Venezuela sell its oil (which the US has sanctioned) to China. The apparent purpose appears to be to put a dent in or even prevent that trade (and also to steal the oil). Also the ship had its tracking turned off, so clearly it is criminal. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/15 "2025-12-11T01:14:47Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > (and also to steal the oil). Pretty much this. The US is being run by a criminal organization now. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/16 "2025-12-11T01:26:36Z")
According to the NYT (I don’t have a gift link handy but you can google NYT oil tanker and see some of the reporting), there are some important factors that make this not as scary. Evidently (please correct me if I’m understanding anything wrong), 1. This is not a Venezuelan ship, it’s a rogue ship that operates under false flags, has faked its location data before, and is used to bypass sanctions on countries like Iran. Basically, it’s a smuggling vessel. 2. A warrant was issued 2 weeks ago by a federal judge (details unavailable, however) 3. The investigation into this particular ship appears to have started under the Biden DOJ. Now, is seizing it _now_ related to the fact that it had Venezuelan oil on it? Almost certainly. But I suspect that under normal circumstances this would be a small article on page 5 of the World News section and not what it is now. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/17 "2025-12-11T02:18:48Z")
Here’s an article from the NYT about the ship (gift link): [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/us/politics/oil-tanker-venezuela-tracking-data.html?unlocked\_article\_code=1.708.u6zD.qaIQull4XOl0&smid=url-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/us/politics/oil-tanker-venezuela-tracking-data.html?unlocked_article_code=1.708.u6zD.qaIQull4XOl0&smid=url-share) ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/18 "2025-12-11T02:29:57Z")
Here’s a New York Times article about a Biden administration ship seizure that is a little different: [U.S. Seized Iranian Oil Over Smuggling Incident That Escalated Tensions in Gulf](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/06/us/politics/iran-oil-sanctions-violations.html?unlocked_article_code=1.708.Nq4j.UvW-qo-tq__b&smid=url-share) > [@](#): > > The United States government has seized nearly one million barrels of Iranian crude oil that it says was being smuggled to China in violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran, after it raised the threat of prosecution to get the tanker brought to American waters, newly [unsealed court papers](https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/suez-rajan-statement-of-the-offense/17334221d2ea8668/full.pdf) show. > > The seizure of the oil from the vessel, the M/T Suez Rajan, is part of a larger and shadowy conflict with Iran. The difference is Iranian oil, not Venezuelan. The administration does claim that the ship just seized was previously used to transport Iranian oil. I’d have to carefully review all the oil tanker seizures from past administrations before saying the Trump administration was, just in this one seizure, worse. As noted in other threads, seizure is, even if bad, much less bad than sinking. Perhaps even the Trump administration would hesitate to risk an environment catastrophe by sinking a full oil tanker. Here’s an example where we gave back the oil: > **[Return Begins of Crude Oil US Seized from Iranian Tanker](https://maritime-executive.com/index.php/article/return-begins-of-crude-oil-us-seized-from-iranian-tanker)** > > The nearly four-month battle for control of the crude oil tanker Lana and its cargo appears to be coming to an end. The vessel, which was originally r... ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/19 "2025-12-11T08:02:17Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > But I suspect that under normal circumstances this would be a small article on page 5 of the World News section and not what it is now. That’s the problem with a policy of blatantly committing war crimes; even when you do something legitimate, people are going to assume you’re just engaging in more crimes. Maybe the administration shouldn’t do those bad things in the first place? I know, crazy suggestion. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2025, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/usa-seizes-oil-tanker-off-of-the-coast-of-venezuela/1025605/20 "2025-12-11T14:06:05Z")
I don’t have a per se problem with doing something about the shadow fleet and sanctions busting. Too often these things have no teeth. I do have a problem with this Venezuela obsession (it seems like we’ve been up in arms ever since Chavez called Bush a devil; are we really that thin skinned?). I also have a problem with the fact that we’re happy to ignore this when it benefits Russia.