United States Coast Guard and Navy intercept Nigerian-based supertanker suspected of crude theft, illegal flag use, and transnational crime networks.
United States Coast Guard, in coordination with the U.S. Navy, has seized the Nigerian-owned supertanker Skipper amid allegations of crude oil theft, piracy, and involvement in transnational criminal activities, authorities said.
The 20-year-old Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), identified by IMO Number 9304667, is reportedly owned and managed by Nigeria-based Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd., though its registered ownership is listed under Triton Navigation Corp., headquartered in the Marshall Islands. At the time of interception, the vessel was illegally flying the Guyanese flag. Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) confirmed that Skipper is not registered under its flag and was using it without authorization.
President Donald Trump announced the operation on December 10, 2025, emphasizing the U.S. commitment to combating transnational oil theft and associated criminal networks.
U.S. authorities allege that in addition to stealing crude oil, the tanker was involved in transporting large quantities of hard drugs and operating within financial networks linked to Iranian and other Islamist-backed money laundering schemes. The seizure marks one of the most high-profile U.S. crackdowns on maritime criminal operations in recent years.
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Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd., the Nigerian firm managing the tanker, is listed as inactive by Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), raising questions about the operational oversight of the vessel.
Security sources stated that the enforcement action falls under U.S. federal law, with investigators now examining the vessel’s cargo, ownership documentation, and potential connections to broader smuggling and financial crime networks.
United States Coast Guard and Navy have not yet released details on the vessel’s current location or the number of crew members detained, but sources familiar with the operation indicated that all crew are cooperating with authorities.
Experts say the case highlights ongoing challenges in policing global shipping routes and enforcing maritime law, particularly in areas vulnerable to oil theft, illicit trade, and complex international ownership structures.
The seizure also underscores U.S. efforts to disrupt networks that blend energy theft with drug trafficking and international money laundering, signaling increased scrutiny on vessels registered under dubious or unauthorized flags.
