US Navy Interdicts Tanker Linked to Venezuela Oil Smuggling

The US military has intensified its efforts to disrupt illicit oil trade connected to Venezuela, recently boarding the Panamanian-flagged tanker Veronica III in the Indian Ocean. This action follows a pattern of interdictions initiated after President Donald Trump ordered a quarantine of sanctioned tankers in December 2025, prior to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January 2026.

Tracking the Veronica III

The Veronica III was tracked by the Pentagon from the Caribbean Sea to the Indian Ocean as it attempted to evade the imposed quarantine. US forces conducted a “right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding” on the vessel, according to a post on X by the Department of Defense [1]. The Pentagon stated the ship was attempting to defy President Trump’s quarantine.

Connections to Iran and Venezuela

The Veronica III is under US sanctions related to Iran, as listed by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control [2]. TankerTrackers.com reported the vessel departed Venezuela on January 3, 2026 – the same day Maduro was captured – carrying nearly 2 million barrels of crude and fuel oil [2]. Since 2023, the tanker has been involved with oil transfers linked to Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.

Broader Efforts to Combat Oil Smuggling

The boarding of the Veronica III is part of a larger US strategy to target Venezuela’s oil industry and disrupt the country’s ability to circumvent sanctions. Following Maduro’s capture, several tankers fled the Venezuelan coast, prompting increased US naval activity. The US military previously boarded another tanker, the Aquila II, in the Indian Ocean last week, with its fate currently under review [2].

Trump Administration’s Focus on Venezuela

President Trump has blamed Nicolás Maduro for the influx of Venezuelan migrants into the US and has accused the Maduro government of facilitating drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl and cocaine [4]. The Trump administration has designated Venezuelan criminal groups, including Tren de Aragua and Cartel de los Soles, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) [4].

The Pentagon has not yet announced whether the Veronica III has been formally seized by the US.