US Coast Guard and Navy Seize Nigerian Supertanker Over Crude Theft and Illegal Flag Use
The United States Coast Guard, working with the United States Navy, has seized the Nigerian owned supertanker Skipper over allegations of crude oil theft, piracy, and other transnational crimes. The vessel, a 20 year old Very Large Crude Carrier bearing IMO 9304667, is associated with Nigeria based Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd., though registry documents list Triton Navigation Corp. of the Marshall Islands as the registered owner.
Officials reported that the tanker was using the Guyanese flag without authorization. Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department confirmed that Skipper is absent from its national registry and that the flag use was illegal.
United States security officials stated that the operation was carried out under American law enforcement authority. President Donald Trump announced the interception on 10 December 2025. Beyond suspected stolen crude, investigators are examining claims that the vessel transported a significant quantity of hard drugs and operated within a network tied to Iranian and other Islamist backed money laundering financiers.
Corporate Affairs Commission records in Nigeria show that Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd. is currently inactive.
