Maritime Enforcement Measures Against Sanctioned Tankers and Cargo in Peace and War
Retired Navy Captain Raul (Pete) Pedrozo, an expert on the law of naval warfare, has shed light on the complexities surrounding maritime enforcement measures against sanctioned tankers and cargo. In a two-part series, Pedrozo will delve into the legal framework governing these measures in both peacetime and wartime.
Initial Enforcement Measures
On November 16, 2025, the U.S. State Department announced that the Cartel de los Soles would be designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). This designation came with significant implications for maritime enforcement. The cartel, headed by Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking individuals of the illegitimate Maduro regime, was responsible for terrorist violence throughout the Western hemisphere as well as trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe.
On December 10, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard seized the M/T Skipper (previously known as M/T Adisa), off the coast of Venezuela after satellite imagery confirmed that the vessel had loaded 1.8 million barrels of heavy crude at Venezuela’s José terminal between December 4 and 5. The seizure was a result of the vessel’s deceptive shipping practices, including false reflagging, Automatic Identification System (AIS) disabling or spoofing, and illicit ship-to-ship transfers.
The oil tanker was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in November 2022 under Executive Order 13224 for being part of an international oil smuggling operation that funneled money to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and Hezbollah. The United States therefore had jurisdiction over the vessel pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 2339B, 18 U.S.C. 981(a)(1)(G)(i), 18 U.S.C. 981 (b), and 18 U.S.C. 2332b(g)(5). Skipper was seized pursuant to a warrant signed by a magistrate judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Wartime Measures
In wartime, maritime enforcement measures take on a different complexion. The United States has labeled the illegitimate Maduro regime a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), citing its use of revenues from stolen oil to finance acts of terrorism, drug smuggling, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping throughout the Western hemisphere.
The blocking measure targets forty percent of Venezuela’s 400 tankers that are being used to transport sanctioned crude oil to China and other markets. Oil exports are Venezuela’s primary revenue source that is used to finance the illegitimate Maduro regime and its criminal activities throughout the region.
A second boarding by U.S. forces was conducted on December 20, 2025. The Centuries, a Panamanian-flagged tanker, was seized after being found to be carrying sanctioned oil. This incident highlights the ongoing efforts of the United States to enforce maritime sanctions against sanctioned tankers and cargo.
Original Article: Prof Pete Pedrozo on “Maritime Enforcement Measures Against Sanctioned Tankers and Cargo in Peace and War” (Part I) — Duke