United States military forces have executed another strategic seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, marking the fifth such interception in recent weeks as part of the Trump administration’s escalating campaign against Venezuelan oil exports. The targeted vessel, identified as the Olina, was apprehended in a pre-dawn operation conducted jointly by Marines and naval personnel in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.
According to US Southern Command officials, the Olina had departed Venezuelan waters while attempting to evade US naval forces. The vessel had been sailing under a false flag registered to Timor-Leste and had its location tracker disabled for 52 days prior to interception, as reported by maritime risk firm Vanguard Tech. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem characterized the vessel as another ‘ghost fleet’ tanker suspected of transporting embargoed oil.
The operation continues the US government’s multi-front effort to dismantle what officials describe as a ‘dark fleet’ of over 1,000 vessels transporting sanctioned and illicit oil globally. The Olina itself had been previously sanctioned in January under the name Minerva M for allegedly helping finance Russia’s war in Ukraine through oil transportation.
This latest seizure follows two additional tanker interceptions earlier this week in the North Atlantic and Caribbean, including the Russian-flagged Marinera captured with support from the UK Royal Navy. US authorities have declared these vessels stateless due to fraudulent flag representation, invoking United Nations maritime provisions that permit boarding of such ships.
Concurrently, US diplomats have initiated exploratory talks in Caracas regarding potential re-establishment of diplomatic relations, which were severed by Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in 2019. The Trump administration has announced plans to redirect proceeds from seized oil shipments—estimated at 50 million barrels worth $2.8 billion—to benefit the Venezuelan people through market-rate sales controlled by US authorities.