The U.S. Navy intercepted a tanker in the Indian Ocean accused of violating the sanctions blockade imposed by President Donald Trump against Venezuela, the Pentagon announced Tuesday. The vessel, identified as the Bertha, had previously fled the Caribbean region.
“From the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, we tracked it and intercepted it,” the Pentagon stated in a post on X, accompanied by video footage showing personnel rappelling from a helicopter onto the tanker’s deck. The department alleges the Bertha was operating in defiance of the quarantine established by Trump against sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean and was attempting to evade authorities.
This marks the third instance of the U.S. Military intercepting a ship in the Indian Ocean since Trump ordered a blockade in December targeting vessels traveling to or from Venezuela, according to the Pentagon. The move follows a January 3rd operation where U.S. Elite units targeted locations within Venezuela, including the primary military base, Fuente Tiuna, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both are now facing charges in New York related to alleged drug trafficking offenses.
Yet, the tankers seized in recent months represent a slight fraction of the total number of sanctioned vessels operating globally. A senior U.S. Coast Guard official estimated earlier this month that as many as 800 ships may be operating in violation of sanctions, during a congressional hearing.
The operation involving the Bertha comes as the Trump administration continues to assert its policy towards Venezuela, following the ousting of Maduro. Trump announced in Mar-a-Lago that the U.S. Would temporarily assume leadership in Venezuela “until we can ensure a safe, orderly and prudent transition.” Details regarding the specifics and duration of this transitional leadership remain undefined.
According to reports, a classified U.S. Weapon, dubbed the “Discombobulator,” played a crucial role in the success of the Venezuelan operation. Trump, in an interview with the New York Post, claimed the device disabled Venezuelan equipment, preventing a response during Maduro’s capture. He declined to provide further details, stating, “I’m not allowed to talk about it.” He asserted that Venezuelan security forces were unable to activate their Russian and Chinese-made missile systems.
Venezuelan authorities claim at least 100 people, including Venezuelan and Cuban security personnel, were killed during the January 3rd operation. Washington maintains no U.S. Soldiers were harmed. The Pentagon has stated it intends to “deprive illicit actors and their intermediaries of any freedom of maneuver at sea,” but has not commented on the potential for further interceptions or the long-term strategy for enforcing the blockade.