The United States Coast Guard, with support from the U.S. Navy, has intercepted and seized a Nigerian Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) identified as Skipper over alleged involvement in crude oil theft, piracy, and other transnational crimes.
The 20-year-old vessel, with IMO number 9304667, is reportedly owned and managed by Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd., a Nigerian-registered company.
Official documents list Triton Navigation Corp., based in the Marshall Islands, as the vessel’s registered owner.
At the time of the operation, the Skipper was sailing under the flag of Guyana.
However, Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) confirmed that the tanker is not listed in its national registry and had no authorization to fly the Guyanese flag.
U.S. officials said the seizure was conducted under American law-enforcement authority.
President Donald Trump publicly announced the interception on December 10, 2025.
Beyond the crude-theft allegations, U.S. agencies are also investigating the vessel for allegedly transporting a significant quantity of illicit drugs and for suspected links to money-laundering networks reportedly backed by Iranian and other international actors.
Checks with the Corporate Affairs Commission show that Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd. is currently listed as inactive.
U.S. authorities have not released further details on the exact location of the seizure, the amount of suspected stolen crude on board, or the nature of the alleged drug cargo. .
The investigation remains ongoing.