In a significant legal development, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has announced the unsealing of its seizure warrant for the crude oil tanker, the M/T Skipper (IMO 9304667). This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and FBI Director Kash Patel. The seizure warrant was officially signed by a magistrate judge from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia on November 26, 2025.
On December 10, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard boarded and seized the M/T Skipper while it was navigating the high seas after departing from Venezuela. This vessel, previously known as the Adisa, had been flagged by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for its involvement in an oil shipping network that supports Hizballah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). Both of these organizations have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. Department of State.
The IRGC has been known to use the proceeds from petroleum distribution to finance its terrorist operations. U.S. Attorney Pirro emphasized the commitment of her office to combat such activities, stating, “As the premiere United States Attorney’s office leading efforts to intercept ghost vessels as well as sanctioned products, we remain dedicated to legally supporting President Trump’s efforts to make the world a safer place.” She further highlighted the exceptional perseverance and unique capabilities of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in navigating the complexities of this enforcement action.
FBI Director Patel echoed this sentiment, stating, “The FBI's Counterintelligence Division and our partners will continue to enforce U.S. sanctions and cut off our adversaries from financial markets and critical technology.” He noted that the seizure of the M/T Skipper is a testament to the united efforts to impose penalties on the governments of Venezuela and Iran. This operation underscores the importance of a whole-of-government approach to sanctions enforcement.
The seizure warrant was authorized under several legal provisions, including 18 U.S.C. §§ 981, 982, 2332b(g)(5), and 2339B(a)(1). These laws empower the government to seize “all assets, foreign or domestic, of any individual, entity, or organization engaged in planning or perpetrating any Federal crime of terrorism.” This legal framework is crucial for cutting off resources that could potentially aid terrorist activities.
The seizure of the M/T Skipper was executed by Homeland Security Investigations in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation following the initial boarding by the U.S. Coast Guard. The prosecution of this case is being carried out by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, alongside the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division and Criminal Division.
This operation highlights the ongoing commitment of U.S. authorities to disrupt the financial networks that support terrorism and to enforce sanctions against entities involved in such illegal activities.