What are the 'ghost ships' Venezuela is using to evade oil sanctions?
Published: 12/17/2025

President Donald Trump has ordered a naval blockade to stop sanctioned oil tankers from entering and leaving Venezuela due to ongoing tensions and US sanctions. Venezuela, with the world's largest proven oil reserves, relies on oil exports to fund its government spending, resorting to "ghost ships" to evade sanctions. These vessels, part of a global trend used by countries like Russia and Iran, employ tactics like false flags, name changes, and disguising origins to smuggle oil from sanctioned countries.



