The US Navy has seized another illicit tanker vessel in the Indian Ocean. The Ministry of Defense announced this on Tuesday. The incident occurred against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's directive in mid-December to blockade all sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela, and Washington's efforts to increase its military presence in the Caribbean to keep former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro under pressure.
The vessel, named "Bertha," which was detained on Tuesday, had been noted by "The New York Times" in early January as having departed from a major Venezuelan oil port following a US military operation, according to Redaksiya. The Ministry of Defense stated on the social network "X" that "US forces conducted a visit, board, search, and seizure operation on the vessel 'Bertha' in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility during the night, without incident." The ministry added, "The vessel attempted to evade quarantine imposed by President Trump on sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean."
The Ministry of Defense further stated: "From the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, we tracked it and apprehended it. No other nation possesses the global reach, endurance, and will to enforce sanctions across such distances." The ministry also reported the seizure of three boats attempting to flee the scene. "International waters are not a sanctuary for sanctioned individuals and their proxies. By land, air, or sea, our forces will find you and bring you to justice," the ministry added. "The Ministry of Defense will restrict the freedom of movement of illicit actors and their representatives in maritime areas."
Previously, US forces had seized the oil tanker "Veronica III" in the Indo-Pacific region on February 15. According to "OpenSanctions," "Veronica III" is listed on the US Treasury Department's Specially Designated Nationals list. This large crude oil carrier, built in 2006 and sailing under the Panamanian flag, has been linked to the transport of hundreds of thousands of metric tons of sanctioned Iranian oil and is also associated with a sanctioned Chinese shipping company.