US Forces Board Venezuelan Tanker in Indian Ocean

US Forces Board Panamanian-Flagged Tanker in Indian Ocean

The US military has boarded a tanker vessel flagged from Panama, which was sanctioned for carrying Venezuelan oil. According to the Pentagon, the ship, Veronica III, attempted to evade US President Donald Trump’s blockade of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean before being tracked and intercepted in the Indian Ocean.

A video posted on X by the Pentagon shows US forces boarding a helicopter and then boarding the tanker ship. The incident occurred after Venezuela imposed sanctions on its oil exports for several years, relying on a network of falsely flagged tankers to smuggle crude into global supply chains.

The seizure is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to take control of Venezuela’s oil. According to US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, oil sales from Venezuela have generated over $1 billion since President Nicolas Maduro’s capture in January. The Pentagon has confirmed that at least nine ships have been seized so far as part of this effort.

The Veronica III left Venezuela on January 3, carrying nearly 2 million barrels of crude and fuel oil. The vessel was previously registered with the Panama Maritime Authority but has since been cancelled. The exact status of the ship’s current ownership is unclear.

The incident highlights the ongoing efforts by the US to enforce its sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports. The Pentagon did not provide further information on whether the Veronica III was formally seized and placed under US control.

Source: Al Jazeera