U.S. forces seize 'Skipper' tanker off Venezuela in helicopter rappel after AIS‑spoofing detection

The U.S. Coast Guard and special operations forces disabled and seized the oil tanker Skipper off Venezuela’s coast — described by authorities as a central node in an illicit “ghost fleet” moving sanctioned crude — after detecting AIS spoofing. The operation featured armed helicopter rappels and prompted a presidential order for a major regional military buildup.

Discovered 2025-12-10T12:29:05.756469-08:00 | 2025-12-10T12:29:05.756469-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

The seizure used AIS‑spoofing detection and an airborne insertion by U.S. special operations and Coast Guard teams to take control of a tanker identified as part of a sanctioned crude “ghost fleet,” underscoring new maritime‑aviation interdiction methods. See earlier coverage of special‑operations helicopter activity in the region (special-operations helicopters operate within 90 miles of Venezuela: https://hype.aero/?story=a96ed84d-5d40-46d7-bf07-0765ca3e480e).
The president has ordered deployment of an aircraft carrier, fighter jets and tens of thousands of troops, a step-change in regional force posture that will affect air and maritime operational planning and surge logistics; this follows recent show‑of‑force sorties such as USAF B‑52 operations off Venezuela (USAF B-52s conduct hours‑long show‑of‑force sorties off Venezuela: https://hype.aero/?story=9c769a5a-c135-49c7-85f5-d377d19ff7bc).
The action increases operational risk for civil and business aviation in and around Venezuela and may constrain access to Caracas and nearby airspace, compounding concerns from prior reporting on a military bunker at Caracas airport (underground military bunker at Caracas airport: https://hype.aero/?story=9262ef25-3a48-40fd-8b70-1ad7c638ed89).

Reported By

AirForceTimes asiatimes.com Army Recognition cavenewstimes.com NZ Herald militarnyi.com