The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has unsealed a seizure warrant for the crude oil tanker M/T Skipper (IMO #9304667). The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and FBI Director Kash Patel.
A magistrate judge from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia signed the warrant on November 26, 2025. The U.S. Coast Guard boarded and seized the vessel on December 10 while it was traveling in international waters after leaving Venezuela.
According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the M/T Skipper, previously known as Adisa, was part of an oil shipping network that supports Hizballah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). Both groups are designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. Department of State. Proceeds from petroleum distribution have been used by IRGC to fund its networks.
“As the premiere United States Attorney’s office leading efforts to intercept ghost vessels as well as sanctioned products, we remain committed to legally supporting President Trump’s efforts to make the world a safer place,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office in DC has demonstrated exceptional perseverance, and a unique ability to navigate the challenges inherent in this type of enforcement action unmatched anywhere in the country.”
“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,” said FBI Director Patel. “The seizure of this vessel highlights our successful efforts to impose costs on the governments of Venezuela and Iran. Sanctions enforcement requires a whole-of-government approach and the FBI is proud to be part of the team.”
The legal basis for authorizing this seizure includes several statutes—18 U.S.C. §§ 981, 982, 2332b(g)(5), and 2339B(a)(1)—which allow authorities to seize assets belonging to individuals or entities involved in federal crimes related to terrorism against Americans or their property.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation carried out the seizure following boarding operations by the Coast Guard.
Prosecution is being handled by attorneys from both the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C., as well as divisions within the Department of Justice focused on national security and criminal matters.
