January 1, US Forces Nab Sanctioned Maduro Oil Tanker

Wyatt’s Take

• US troops boarded an oil tanker tied to Venezuela in the Indian Ocean.
• This mission is part of a push to stop sanctioned shipments and clamp down on Maduro’s old regime.
• The Trump administration vows no tanker gets away, sending a clear message worldwide.

The US military tracked and boarded the Veronica III oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after it tried to dodge sanctions. This effort is part of a wider campaign to end illegal Venezuelan oil shipments tied to Maduro’s old government.

“The vessel tried to defy President Trump’s quarantine — hoping to slip away,” the Pentagon said on X.

Video from the Pentagon showed US forces boarding the ship without any resistance. The tanker was already on the US sanctions list for smuggling Venezuelan oil.

The Trump team says they’re going after every ship tied to this so-called “shadow fleet.” Since Maduro’s January ouster, at least 16 tankers tried to flee, leading to a global cat-and-mouse chase. Seven have been seized so far.

“The only guidance I gave to my military commanders is none of those are getting away,” said War Secretary Pete Hegseth during a stop at a Maine shipyard.

The Navy chased smugglers from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, with destroyers and sea bases on patrol. Both the Veronica III and another recently intercepted vessel were using fake Panamanian flags and hiding their signals.

Venezuela’s oil trade has used illegal routes and partners to dodge US pressure for years. But the administration’s quarantine in December — and the capture of Maduro in January — tightened the net.

Officials didn’t say if the Veronica III is now in US hands, only that the mission went by the book. “International waters are not sanctuary,” the Pentagon declared. “By land, air, or sea, we will find you and deliver justice.”

Even as Maduro faces justice, this latest operation shows America’s reach doesn’t end at our shores — and that the US is serious about taking back control from hostile regimes.

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Wyatt Matters

This story hits home for folks who know the value of energy, jobs, and security. America’s stand against backdoor deals protects not just our borders, but our way of life and the future of working families across the heartland.