A newly released video of the U.S. tanker seizure shows federal agents storming a Venezuelan crude vessel in a rare enforcement action not seen since 2014. Attorney General Pam Bondi unveiled the footage Wednesday, highlighting a coordinated effort by FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Coast Guard to block the movement of sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.
According to the footage, agents executed a precise maritime operation with support from the Department of War, boarding the tanker and taking control without incident. The vessel was reportedly being used to move crude in violation of U.S. sanctions targeting Nicolás Maduro’s regime and Iran’s illicit oil networks. The operation signals a renewed commitment to enforcing sanctions that have long served as a pressure point against authoritarian governments in the region.
Bondi emphasized the rarity of such a mission, noting it was the first order of its kind in more than a decade. The video captured agents approaching the tanker by sea and air, securing the deck, and escorting crew members into custody. The agencies involved worked jointly to prevent the vessel from completing its sanctioned transport route.
The action reflects a significant escalation in maritime enforcement after years of inconsistent oversight.
