U.S. Attempts to Seize Russian Oil Tanker at Sea, Reports Say

American authorities tried to forcibly take control of a Russian oil tanker in the North Atlantic Ocean, according to U.S. media reports. The reported attempt happened in late 2022. It targeted the *Ligovsky Prospect*, a vessel carrying oil from Russia. Officials planned to intercept the tanker using Navy SEALs or Coast Guard teams. The goal was to divert the ship to a port in the United States. This action would use a legal process called forfeiture, where assets can be seized by court order. The operation was ultimately canceled. Senior U.S. officials called it off due to major safety and diplomatic concerns. They feared a violent confrontation at sea with the tanker's Russian crew. This reported incident occurred soon after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At that time, the U.S. and its allies imposed severe sanctions on Russian oil exports. The U.S. Department of Justice has declined to comment on the operation.