US Seizes Venezuelan Supertanker Skipper, Heading to Houston

The Venezuelan oil supertanker "Skipper," seized by U.S. authorities this week, is en route to Houston, Texas, sources confirmed Friday. The vessel is carrying about 1.85 million barrels of Venezuelan Merey crude but is too large to enter the port directly, requiring an offshore transfer to smaller ships.

The seizure, executed under a U.S. warrant, has sharply escalated tensions with Caracas. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the interception, while Guyana's maritime authority said the tanker was falsely flying its flag. Neither the U.S. Coast Guard, Port Houston, nor Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA immediately commented on the situation.

The incident is part of a broader pressure campaign against the government of President Nicolás Maduro. Sources indicate Washington is preparing to intercept more vessels transporting Venezuelan oil in the near future.

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Source:  REUTERS