U.S. Forces Conduct Maritime Interdiction of Sanctioned Tanker Veronica III in Indian Ocean

INDO-PACIFIC - U.S. forces boarded the Veronica III on February 14, following surveillance from Venezuelan waters across the Atlantic.

​The Panamanian-flagged tanker, IMO 9326055, transported cargo in violation of sanctions related to oil trade with Iran and Venezuela. Personnel from an amphibious assault ship executed the operation without reported issues.

​The interdiction continues a series of seizures, including the Aquila II and Gallileo, under established enforcement measures.

The Veronica III departed Venezuelan ports in late 2025, associated with networks bypassing export restrictions via registry alterations and signal discrepancies.

Treasury documentation connects it to sanctioned shipments, including transfers near Iran’s coast. Such vessels form part of fleets that operate outside standard oversight, often with incomplete documentation.

Released imagery depicts teams descending from helicopters to secure the tanker’s areas during ocean conditions. Details on the cargo remain undisclosed, but the interdiction addresses trade flows under restrictions.

Official Statements

• [Department of War, February 15, 2026]: “We defend the Homeland forward. Distance does not protect you. Overnight, U.S. forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the Veronica III without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility. The vessel tried to defy President Trump’s quarantine - hoping to slip away. We tracked it from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, closed the distance, and shut it down. No other nation has the reach, endurance, or will to do this. International waters are not sanctuary. By land, air, or sea, we will find you and deliver justice. The Department of War will deny illicit actors and their proxies freedom of movement in the maritime domain.”