United States Intercepts Fifth Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil Tanker/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The United States military intercepted and boarded a fifth sanctioned oil tanker, the Olina, in the Caribbean Sea. The action is part of a continued campaign to control Venezuelan oil exports. U.S. forces say there is no refuge for vessels violating sanctions.
U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Tanker Quick Looks
- U.S. military boarded the oil tanker Olina in the Caribbean Sea
- Operation carried out before dawn by Marines and Navy personnel
- The ship was the fifth seized in Venezuela oil crackdown
- Action is part of broader efforts to limit Venezuelan oil trade
- Southern Command declared “no safe haven for criminals”
- U.S. Coast Guard took custody of the vessel
- Southern Command released footage of the boarding operation
- Olina previously sanctioned under its former name Minerva M
- Vessel was flagged under Timor-Leste, but registration listed as false
- Ship owner recently changed to Hong Kong-based company
- Olina last reported location north of Venezuela in November
- Ship had been “running dark” since, with location beacon off
- Tanker holds up to 890,000 barrels of oil, worth over $50 million
United States Intercepts Fifth Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil Tanker
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — U.S. military personnel have intercepted a fifth oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, escalating a campaign to monitor and restrict the global distribution of Venezuelan oil amid continued enforcement of international sanctions. The intercepted vessel, named the Olina, was boarded by Marines and Navy sailors in a pre-dawn operation, according to U.S. Southern Command.
The action is part of a long-standing initiative by the Trump administration to limit Venezuela’s access to global oil markets following the ousting of President Nicolás Maduro. The Olina is now the fifth sanctioned tanker seized by U.S. forces, highlighting the administration’s efforts to tighten control over oil exports from Venezuela.
Southern Command confirmed the boarding and announced the mission publicly, stating that “there is no safe haven for criminals.” Video footage released by the military showed a U.S. helicopter landing on the tanker and personnel conducting a search of the vessel’s deck.
While the military coordinated the operation, the Department of Homeland Security led the mission, with support from Navy and Marine Corps forces. The U.S. Coast Guard took final custody of the vessel, although it declined to comment on the details of the seizure and referred inquiries to the White House.
Southern Command representatives would not confirm whether the Olina was directly affiliated with Venezuela or under sanction, instead referring all questions regarding the ship’s legal status to the Department of Justice and Homeland Security.
However, U.S. records indicate that the tanker was previously named Minerva M and had been sanctioned for transporting Russian oil. At the time, it flew the flag of Panama. It now claims to be registered under the flag of Timor-Leste, but international maritime databases show that the Olina is operating under a false flag, meaning its current registration is not legally recognized.
Further complicating the situation, ownership and management of the Olina were reportedly changed in July to a company based in Hong Kong. This change followed increased scrutiny of maritime assets involved in oil shipments potentially linked to sanctioned regimes.
According to shipping databases, the Olina last broadcast its location in November while sailing in the Caribbean north of the Venezuelan coast. Since then, the ship has stopped transmitting its position — a tactic known as “going dark” — often used to avoid detection while navigating sanctioned routes or transferring illicit cargo.
The tanker is capable of carrying as much as 890,000 barrels of oil. At current global market prices of around $60 per barrel, the cargo would be valued at approximately $53 million.
This seizure reflects a broader U.S. effort to enforce maritime sanctions more aggressively through military operations, regional cooperation, and legal pressure. With multiple tankers now seized, the United States appears intent on dismantling networks attempting to bypass sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry.
The seizure of the Olina signals not just a show of force, but a strategic commitment to reducing unauthorized oil flows from Venezuela and other sanctioned entities. U.S. officials have stated that more operations are expected as intelligence and tracking efforts improve in the Caribbean and surrounding waters.
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