US Forces Seize Another Venezuelan Oil Tanker In Indian Ocean

Authorities accuse the Veronica III of defying Trump's quarantine on Venezuelan oil exports

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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U.S. military forces boarded and seized the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker Veronica III in the Indian Ocean, accusing it of defying President Trump's quarantine on Venezuelan oil exports. The tanker was tracked from the Caribbean Sea and had nearly 2 million barrels of crude and fuel oil onboard.

Why it matters

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry for years, leading to a shadow fleet of falsely flagged tankers smuggling Venezuelan crude into global markets. This seizure is part of the Trump administration's broader efforts to take control of Venezuela's oil exports.

The details

The Veronica III, a Panamanian-flagged vessel under U.S. sanctions related to Iran, was boarded by U.S. forces after being tracked from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean. The Pentagon said the tanker tried to "defy President Trump's quarantine" and "hoping to slip away" with its cargo of nearly 2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude and fuel oil.

  • The Veronica III left Venezuela on January 3, 2026, the same day as the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro.
  • The tanker's Panamanian registration was canceled in December 2024.

The players

Veronica III

A Panamanian-flagged oil tanker that was boarded and seized by U.S. forces in the Indian Ocean for allegedly defying sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who ordered a quarantine on sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers in December 2025 as part of efforts to pressure the Maduro regime.

Nicolás Maduro

The former president of Venezuela who was apprehended in January 2026 during an American military operation.

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What’s next

The Pentagon did not specify whether the Veronica III was formally seized and placed under U.S. control, but the administration's efforts to target Venezuelan oil exports are expected to continue.

The takeaway

This seizure highlights the U.S. government's ongoing crackdown on Venezuela's oil industry, which has relied on a shadow fleet of tankers to smuggle crude into global markets in defiance of American sanctions.