- US Coast Guard and Navy seized Nigerian-owned VLCC Skipper over crude theft and piracy allegations.
- Tanker illegally flew the Guyanese flag, confirmed by Guyana’s MARAD.
- Authorities are investigating claims of hard drugs trafficking and links to Iranian-backed money-laundering networks.
- Managed by Nigeria-based Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd., currently inactive according to CAC records.
The United States Coast Guard, in partnership with the U.S. Navy, has seized the Nigerian-owned supertanker Skipper over allegations of crude oil theft, piracy, and transnational crimes. The 20-year-old vessel, managed by Nigeria’s Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd., was intercepted while illegally flying the Guyanese flag, drawing international attention to maritime law violations.
The Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Skipper, bearing IMO Number 930****, is owned by Triton Navigation Corp., registered in the Marshall Islands, but managed by Nigeria-based Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd. At the time of seizure, the tanker was operating under the Guyanese flag without authorization, as confirmed by Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), which stated that the ship “is not on the national ship registry.”
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
READ ALSO: Dangote Launches Historic N1trn Scholarship Scheme for 1.3m Nigerian Students
U.S. authorities revealed that the operation was conducted under American law enforcement jurisdiction, with President Donald Trump announcing the seizure on 10 December 2025. Beyond alleged crude theft, investigators are probing claims that the tanker transported substantial quantities of hard drugs and operated within a criminal network reportedly linked to Iranian-backed financiers and other transnational actors.
A review of Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) records shows that Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd. is currently inactive, raising further questions about the legality of the vessel’s operations. Officials emphasized that the seizure underscores the US commitment to combating maritime crime and enforcing international shipping laws.
- “The seizure of Skipper highlights the importance of maritime security and our zero-tolerance stance against illegal crude oil activities and piracy,” a senior US Coast Guard official said.
