The United States Coast Guard, working in coordination with the U.S. Navy, has intercepted a Nigerian-owned supertanker, Skipper, following intelligence reports linking the vessel to crude oil theft, piracy, and other transnational criminal activities across multiple regions.
The vessel, a 20-year-old Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) with IMO Number 9304667, has reportedly operated extensively in West African and South American waters. According to a report by Vanguard, the tanker has been under international scrutiny for its unusual movement patterns and cargo documentation.
Although Skipper is reportedly owned and managed by Lagos-based Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd., official shipping records list Triton Navigation Corp., a company registered in the Marshall Islands, as the vessel’s owner—an arrangement investigators say raises concerns about beneficial ownership transparency.
At the time of interception, the tanker was allegedly flying the Guyanese flag without authorisation. Officials of Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) confirmed that Skipper is not registered under Guyana’s flag, describing the action as illegal and deceptive.
Maritime experts note that unauthorised flag use, commonly referred to as “flag hopping,” is often employed by vessels attempting to evade regulatory oversight, sanctions, or detection by international authorities.
U.S. security officials said the interception was carried out under American law enforcement authority following a multi-agency investigation that flagged irregularities in the tanker’s movements and cargo records.
President Donald Trump publicly announced the operation on December 10, 2025, describing it as part of a broader crackdown on illicit maritime activities that threaten U.S. national security and the integrity of the global energy supply chain.
Beyond suspected crude oil theft—a persistent challenge in the Gulf of Guinea—investigators are also examining whether Skipper was involved in transporting a significant shipment of hard drugs. Authorities are further probing potential links between the vessel’s operations and an international network allegedly involving Iranian and other Islamist-aligned financiers connected to money laundering, arms trafficking, and illicit oil trading.
The seizure has intensified scrutiny of Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd., the Nigerian company associated with the tanker. A search of Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) records shows the company is currently listed as inactive.
Investigators say the company’s inactive status, combined with the opaque ownership structure and unauthorised flag use, has raised serious questions about its role in the tanker’s operations prior to interception.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy have not yet disclosed the vessel’s current location or whether criminal charges will be filed, but officials say the investigation remains ongoing.
Credit: Business Insider Africa
