The Pentagon announced that the Panama-flagged tanker 'Veronica III' was tracked from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean where it was ultimately stopped. This interception is part of ongoing enforcement operations against ships transporting oil from Venezuela, which have been subject to sanctions under Trump’s administration. A video released with the announcement shows US forces boarding the vessel after deploying from a helicopter.

This recent operation follows the seizure of another tanker, ‘Aquila II’, under similar circumstances just a week prior, suggesting a continued focus on enforcing the maritime sanctions imposed by the US. Since the blockade began in December 2025, at least nine vessels have been detained, with evidence suggesting that a vast network of 'shadow fleet' vessels engaged in evading sanctions exists, highlighting the ongoing challenges in controlling oil shipping routes.

A senior US Coast Guard official estimates that around 800 vessels may be operating globally that are trying to circumvent these sanctions, which underscores the scale of the issue at hand. The situation remains fluid as the US pursues its efforts to curb oil shipments from Venezuela amidst heightened geopolitical tensions in the region.