How US Seizes Nigerian Owned Supertanker Over Suspected Crude Theft

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By AbdulRahman TiwaTope

The United States Coast Guard working with the United States Navy has detained a Nigerian owned supertanker named Skipper over allegations of crude oil theft, piracy and other cross border crimes. The action was taken on the high seas and has triggered wider investigations into the vessel’s ownership, registration and operations.

Reports indicated that the ship is a 20 year old Very Large Crude Carrier with IMO Number 9304667 and linked to Nigeria based Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd, although its listed owner on record is Triton Navigation Corp located in the Marshall Islands. Officials said the tanker was flying the Guyanese flag illegally when it was stopped.

Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department later clarified that the vessel is not recognised in its national registry, making the flag use unauthorised. United States security sources explained that the interception was executed under American law enforcement powers, with former President Donald Trump confirming the operation publicly.

Investigators are now probing fresh claims that the vessel may have been moving a large quantity of hard drugs while operating in a network believed to be funded by suspected Iranian and Islamist linked money laundering groups. Corporate Affairs Commission records in Abuja showed that Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd is inactive, even though it is listed with a business address at 111 Jakpa Road in Effurun, Delta State and registration number 1007876.

Reactions from industry experts in Nigeria suggest possible regulatory lapses if the vessel indeed departed the country before its arrest.

President of the Centre for Marine Surveyors, Nigeria, Engr Akin Olaniyan said such a development would point to serious weaknesses in Port State Control and could expose other vessels leaving Nigeria to heightened foreign scrutiny.

Different stakeholders in the maritime and oil services sectors also expressed concern. National President of Oil and Gas Service Providers Association of Nigeria, Mazi Colman Obasi said he was unaware of any Nigerian supertanker operating under such conditions and urged more vigilance from relevant agencies.

President of the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria, Otunba Sola Adewumi stated he needed more information before commenting on the matter.

Former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Mr Temisan Omatseye also said he had only just learnt about the arrest and could not provide an immediate assessment.

Meanwhile, NIMASA disclosed that it has not received official details on the incident and requested that enquiries be formally submitted for proper response.