The vessel, known as "The Skipper," was seized by the U.S. Coast Guard and other U.S. agencies on Wednesday. It was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2022. According to a 2022 Treasury Department notice, the tanker was one of several vessels used for illicit oil shipments by a Gulf-based businessman named Viktor Artemov.

Venezuela’s foreign affairs minister denounced the seizure, calling it a “blatant theft” and “an act of international piracy.”

By Daphne Psaledakis, Marianna Parraga and Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON, Dec 11 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife,

U.S. military seizes Venezuelan oil tanker in rare operation targeting sanctions violations. Armed agents rappelled from helicopters in dramatic takedown.