US Seizes Sanctioned Bertha Oil Tanker
Analysis based on 17 articles · First reported Feb 24, 2026 · Last updated Feb 24, 2026
The seizure of the Bertha and other oil tankers by the United States military directly impacts the illicit oil trade from Venezuela and Iran, potentially reducing the supply of crude oil in global markets and affecting shipping companies involved in such activities. This action reinforces the United States' stance on sanctions enforcement, which could lead to increased scrutiny and risk for entities attempting to circumvent them.
U.S. military forces boarded and placed under control the sanctioned oil tanker Bertha in the Indian Ocean, after tracking it from the Caribbean Sea. This operation is part of the United States' broader efforts to target illicit oil connected to Venezuela and Iran, and marks the tenth interdiction by the Donald Trump administration since December. The Bertha, flagged to the Cook Islands and later listed under a false flag of Netherlands — Curaçao, was carrying 1.9 million barrels of Merey 16 crude from Venezuela and had a history of receiving Iranian crude for delivery to China. The vessel was operating in defiance of President Donald Trump's established quarantine of sanctioned vessels. This event follows the apprehension of Nicolás Maduro, the former President of Venezuela, and is part of a campaign to pressure Venezuela's oil sector. Other tankers, including the Aquila-2 and Marinera, have also been seized.
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