U.S. Forces Board Sanctioned Tanker Veronica III, Ninth Vessel Targeted in Blockade Campaign

U.S. military forces have boarded the sanctioned VLCC Veronica III in the Indian Ocean, marking the ninth tanker subjected to U.S. military flag verification boarding or seizure since the partial blockade of Venezuelan oil shipments began in December.

The boarding took place overnight Saturday at an undisclosed location and was carried out without incident, the Pentagon said. Video from the operation shows helicopter boarding teams supported by an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.

The Veronica III, a 300,000-dwt stateless tanker built in 2006, had been tracked from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean. Following the boarding, the vessel resumed AIS transmissions after a prolonged period running dark. According to ShipAtlas AIS data, it was later underway at about six knots near the Cocos Islands, heading toward the Sunda Strait.

U.S. officials have not confirmed what will happen to the vessel or its cargo. Previous interdictions have resulted in vessels being diverted for offloading or returned to Venezuelan trades.

Like many vessels linked to the shadow fleet, it has been involved in transporting Russian and Venezuelan crude.

U.S. authorities have indicated that enforcement actions will continue globally, regardless of distance from the Western Hemisphere.

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