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Zombie Ships: Venezuela's Secret Oil Smuggling Fleet
17 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Vessels use 'zombie ship' tactics, adopting identities of scrapped ships.
- Crude oil origin is disguised through offshore transfers to compliant tankers.
- Automatic Identification Systems are disabled to hide vessel identity and location.
US military operations have intercepted an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast, exposing clandestine methods used to circumvent sanctions. A significant tactic involves 'zombie ships' that steal the identities of decommissioned vessels by using their registration numbers. This allows them to operate undetected, as seen with the Varada, which reappeared years after its supposed scrapping.
These operations often involve disguising the oil's origin by transferring it at sea to tankers flying legitimate flags. These compliant vessels then deliver the oil, presenting it as originating from a non-sanctioned country, a method used for Venezuelan oil exports to China. Another common practice is disabling the Automatic Identification System (AIS), which transmits crucial vessel data, thereby concealing their identity and whereabouts.
Maritime security firms are actively tracking these evasive maneuvers. Some vessels are believed to be 'spoofing' their positions, transmitting false signals to appear in different locations. The seizure underscores the extensive and evolving strategies employed in illicit oil trading.
