U.S. Seizes Venezuelan Tanker in Crackdown on Illicit ‘Shadow Fleet’

White House deputy assistant Sebastian Gorka stated Wednesday that the oil tanker seized by U.S. forces off the coast of Venezuela is part of a growing “shadow fleet” used by hostile regimes to evade sanctions and skirt international law.

Speaking on “Rob Schmitt Tonight,” Gorka described the vessel as fitting a pattern of illicit maritime activity linked to nations including Venezuela and Iran — activity the United States can no longer ignore.

“This is a member of a shadow fleet,” Gorka said. “The attempts to evade sanctions, and also to just do an end run around international law with flags of convenience — we’re not going to allow this anymore.”

Gorka’s remarks followed hours after President Donald Trump confirmed that the United States had taken control of an oil tanker operating off the coast of Venezuela, though he provided few details about the operation. Trump stated the vessel was seized “for very good reason.”

Gorka praised the seizure as consistent with a stronger national security posture outlined in the president’s newly released national security strategy.

“So whether it’s Venezuela or other countries like Iran that are making money in ways that are illegal and counter the U.S. national interest, as elucidated so very, very eloquently in the president’s national security strategy published on Friday, we are very serious,” he said.

Gorka emphasized that U.S. interdictions would target all forms of illegal maritime operations, from narcotics smuggling to oil tankers operating in violation of sanctions.

“Whether it’s drug boats or illegal tankers, we will take action where it threatens our national security interests as the United States,” he added.