United States forces have taken control of another oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, marking the fifth vessel seized in recent weeks as Washington intensifies efforts to curb Venezuelan oil exports under sanctions.
Officials said the tanker, named Olina, was intercepted after leaving Venezuelan waters and is listed under multiple international sanctions regimes. US authorities say the operation is part of a broader campaign to dismantle what they describe as a “dark fleet” of ships used to move sanctioned or illicit oil across global waters.
Latest Seizure Part of Ongoing Pressure Campaign
According to US officials, the operation was carried out before dawn by US Marines and naval personnel working alongside the Department of Homeland Security. The tanker was seized after authorities determined it was attempting to evade US patrols shortly after departing Venezuela.
The US military’s Southern Command said the action sent a clear warning to vessels attempting to bypass sanctions. In a public statement, the command said joint interagency forces were acting to ensure that sanctioned ships could not operate freely.
The seizure comes days after the arrest of Venezuela’s former president Nicolás Maduro, which US officials say has further intensified enforcement operations in the region.
Allegations of Sanctions Evasion
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the Olina was suspected of carrying embargoed oil and described it as part of a so-called “ghost fleet”. She shared footage that appeared to show US troops descending onto a ship from a helicopter, describing the mission as controlled and effective.
Maritime risk analysts said the tanker had been sailing under a false registration linked to Timor-Leste. Tracking data indicated the vessel’s transponder had been inactive for several weeks, a tactic commonly associated with ships attempting to conceal their movements.
The Olina had previously been sanctioned by the US under a different name, Minerva M, with officials alleging it had been used to move oil in ways that helped fund Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Previous Tanker Seizures
Earlier this week, US authorities confirmed the seizure of two other tankers linked to Venezuelan oil exports in rapid succession. One of those vessels, the Marinera, was operating under a Russian flag and was intercepted in the North Atlantic with logistical assistance from the United Kingdom.
US officials alleged that the Marinera had previously sailed under a false flag, rendering it stateless under international maritime law. Another tanker, the M/T Sophia, was also seized in Caribbean waters after authorities said it was engaged in illicit activities.
Legal experts have noted that international law allows enforcement action against stateless vessels, particularly when they are suspected of violating sanctions.
US Oil Control and Diplomatic Signals
President Donald Trump has said Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, could transfer tens of millions of barrels of oil to US control as part of ongoing arrangements.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any oil taken under US control would be sold at market prices, with proceeds managed in a way intended to benefit the Venezuelan population.
At the same time, US diplomats travelled to Caracas on Friday to assess the possibility of reopening the American embassy. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed in 2019, but interim Venezuelan authorities have indicated a willingness to explore restoring ties.
Officials say enforcement actions at sea will continue as long as sanctioned vessels attempt to move Venezuelan oil through international waters.