U.S. authorities carried out a dramatic maritime raid on Wednesday, seizing the Guyana-flagged oil tanker Skipper in international waters with more than 1.1 million barrels of Venezuelan crude on board.

The operation marks a sharp escalation in Washington’s campaign to choke off President Nicolás Maduro’s oil revenues and disrupt alleged links to Iran and terrorist networks.

The raid unfolded with Coast Guard helicopters fast-roping armed Marines and federal agents onto the deck of the 333-meter vessel, previously known as M/T Adisa and sanctioned since 2022. Attorney General Pam Bondi released footage of the boarding, describing the ship as part of a “sophisticated illicit oil shipping network” tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah. President Donald Trump, hailing the seizure as “the largest ever,” quipped during a White House briefing: “We keep it, I guess—get a helicopter and follow the tanker if you want to know where it’s going.”

Satellite data showed the Skipper had loaded covertly at Venezuela’s José port earlier this month, disabling its tracking system before transferring 200,000 barrels to another vessel near Curaçao bound for Cuba. U.S. forces intercepted the tanker without resistance or casualties, with FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Pentagon coordinating the mission.

The seizure underscores Trump’s “maximum pressure” strategy against Maduro, who faces narcoterrorism charges and a $50 million bounty. It comes amid a broader Pentagon-led campaign in the Caribbean, including strikes on cartel-linked boats and a 15,000-troop buildup. Oil markets reacted with a modest uptick, with WTI rising 1.2 percent to $58.95 per barrel, though analysts suggested limited long-term disruption unless more vessels are targeted.

Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry denounced the action as “international piracy,” vowing to appeal to global bodies and accusing Washington of economic warfare. Guyana, whose flag the Skipper falsely flew, distanced itself, calling the incident a “serious violation.”

Reactions split sharply. Supporters, including Venezuelan exiles and Republican lawmakers, praised the raid as a decisive strike against a regime accused of human rights abuses and drug trafficking. Critics, from Democrats to international observers, condemned it as resource theft that risks escalation with Russia and China, Maduro’s key backers. Human Rights Watch warned of worsening humanitarian fallout, with Venezuela already facing mass displacement of 7.7 million people.

As the Skipper is towed to an undisclosed U.S. port for forfeiture proceedings, the raid highlights Trump’s aggressive energy diplomacy—starving adversaries of funds while bolstering domestic markets. With Maduro vowing retaliation and Washington hinting at more seizures, the Caribbean’s waters are set for turbulent months ahead.