Washington : In a dramatic escalation of economic pressure on President Nicolás Maduro, the United States seized the world’s largest “shadow fleet” oil tanker, the Dashan, off the coast of Venezuela on December 10, 2025. The operation marks one of the boldest enforcement actions yet against Venezuela’s sanctions-evading petroleum network.
According to officials, US Coast Guard operatives fast-roped onto the tanker in international waters, detaining its 30-member crew and securing nearly 2 million barrels of illicit crude believed to be bypassing US sanctions. The giant vessel—valued at $150 million—is linked to offshore networks involving Russian entities and the Wagner Group.
President Donald Trump authorized the seizure, calling it a “game-changer” designed to cut off up to 10% of Venezuela’s export capacity, which Washington says funds Maduro’s alleged repression and election manipulation. US intelligence estimates the Maduro regime relies on a $20 billion shadow oil trade to sustain its security apparatus.
The Venezuelan government condemned the move as “state piracy” and vowed retaliation, accusing Washington of attempting to destabilize the country after disputed elections and ongoing human rights allegations. The raid comes weeks after Ukraine launched sea-drone strikes on similar covert tankers linked to the global sanctions-busting network.
The seizure underscores the Biden–Trump administration’s increasingly aggressive posture toward Maduro’s regime, with analysts warning it could deepen geopolitical tensions involving Russia, China, and Latin American allies.
