US Interdicts Veronica III Tanker Carrying Venezuelan Oil
Analysis based on 51 articles · First reported Feb 09, 2026 · Last updated Feb 25, 2026
The interdiction of Veronica III and Aquila II by the United States signals a continued aggressive stance against illicit oil trade, particularly from Venezuela. This action is likely to further tighten global oil supply chains for sanctioned crude, potentially leading to price volatility and increased scrutiny on shipping companies involved in such activities.
US military forces boarded the Panamanian-flagged tanker Veronica III in the Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean Sea. This operation is part of a broader US effort to target illicit oil connected to Venezuela, which has been under US sanctions for several years. The Veronica III, under US sanctions related to Iran, was carrying nearly 2 million barrels of crude and fuel oil and had been involved in transporting sanctioned Russian, Iranian, and Venezuelan oil since 2023. This interdiction follows a similar operation last week involving the tanker Aquila II and comes after President Donald Trump's order for a quarantine of sanctioned tankers in December, preceding the capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro in January. The Pentagon stated that the vessel tried to defy the quarantine, emphasizing the US's global reach in enforcing sanctions.
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