The U.S. military announced it boarded a second oil tanker within a week, pursuing the vessel from the Caribbean Sea to the Indian Ocean, declaring, "International waters are not a refuge." The tags are ["U.S. military","oil tanker","Indian Ocean","Caribbean Sea","international waters"]
Foreign news agencies reported that on Sunday, 15 Feb 2026 GMT+7, the U.S. military boarded a second oil tanker in the Indian Ocean within a week after tracking it from the Caribbean Sea, suspecting the vessel was assisting Venezuela in evading U.S. sanctions. The tags are ["U.S. military","oil tanker search","Indian Ocean","Caribbean Sea","Venezuela sanctions"]
The seized tanker is named "Veronica III," flying the Panamanian flag. This is at least the seventh oil tanker the U.S. has seized since beginning its crackdown on Venezuela's sanctioned oil exports late last year. The tags are ["Veronica III","Panama flag","oil tanker seizure","Venezuela oil","U.S. sanctions"]
"Distance does not protect you," the Pentagon said in a statement on Sunday, releasing videos and photos that appear to show the U.S. military boarding operation. The tags are ["Pentagon statement","U.S. military operation","boarding","video evidence"]
The Pentagon's statement added that this action asserts the right to search, maritime interdiction, and boarding, without disclosing whether the U.S. seized the ship after the search or allowed it to continue. The tags are ["Pentagon statement","maritime interdiction","right to search","U.S. military boarding"]
"This vessel attempted to violate President Trump's embargo, hoping to escape," the Pentagon said. "We tracked this ship from the Caribbean Sea to the Indian Ocean, closing distance and stopping the vessel." The tags are ["Pentagon statement","embargo violation","tracking","vessel interception"]
"No other country has the capability, patience, or determination to do this. International waters are no refuge—by land, air, or sea. We will find you and bring you to justice," the statement declared. The tags are ["Pentagon statement","international waters","law enforcement","U.S. military commitment"]
According to TankerTrackers.com, the Veronica III departed Venezuela on 3 Jan 2026 GMT+7—the same day the U.S. raided Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's residence in Caracas. The tags are ["TankerTrackers.com","Veronica III departure","Venezuela","Nicolás Maduro","U.S. raid"]
The website further reported that the vessel was carrying 1.9 million barrels of crude oil upon departure and is believed to have been involved in transporting oil for Russia, Iran, and Venezuela since 2023. The tags are ["Veronica III","crude oil cargo","oil transport","Russia","Iran","Venezuela"]
Last week, the U.S. announced it boarded the Aquila II, which U.S. forces also "tracked and pursued" to the Indian Ocean. The tags are ["U.S. military","Aquila II","tracking","Indian Ocean","boarding"]
The U.S. blockade has drastically reduced Venezuela's oil exports, with only vessels linked to Chevron and bound for the U.S. continuing normal operations. The tags are ["Venezuela oil exports","U.S. blockade","Chevron","sanctions"]
Matt Smith, head of analysis at U.S. data firm Kpler, told the BBC that Venezuelan oil shipments fell by nearly half in January, down to about 400,000 barrels per day. The tags are ["Matt Smith","Kpler","Venezuelan oil shipments","BBC interview","oil export decline"]
Follow international news: The tags are ["international news"]https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign The tags are ["news website"]
Source: The tags are ["source"]bbc The tags are ["BBC"]