US Forces Seize Fifth Oil Tanker Linked to Venezuela

US Forces Confiscate Another Oil Tanker in the Caribbean

The United States Armed Forces have seized a fifth oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, according to officials, as Washington continues its efforts to control oil exports from Venezuela. "Once again, interagency forces have sent a clear message this morning: 'there is no safe refuge for criminals,'" stated the US Southern Command on platform X. The Friday morning post noted that sailors and soldiers, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, have "captured" the oil tanker Olina.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem indicated that the Olina was "another ship from the spectral fleet" suspected of carrying oil under embargo and was seized after it "attempted to leave Venezuela, evading US forces." Noem released an online video appearing to show soldiers descending onto a ship from a helicopter. The tanker Olina is on the sanctions list of multiple countries and is the fifth vessel seized by the US in recent weeks.

The maritime risk company Vanguard Tech stated that the vessel was attempting to breach the US naval blockade in the Caribbean. They added that the ship's locator had last been active 52 days ago, northeast of Curaçao, and that "the seizure follows an extended pursuit of vessels linked to the deliveries of sanctioned Venezuelan oil in the region." Earlier this week, the US announced the seizure of two other ships linked to oil exports from Venezuela in operations "one after another" in the North Atlantic and Caribbean. One of these was the ship Marinera, flying the Russian flag, which was confiscated with the assistance of the British Royal Navy, which provided aerial and maritime logistical support.

The Marinera was reportedly part of the phantom fleet transporting oil for Venezuela, Russia, and Iran, in violation of US sanctions. American authorities claimed that the second ship - M/T Sophia - was "engaged in illicit activities." These measures come amid US efforts to halt most Venezuelan crude oil exports, just days after special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a lightning operation at his residence in Caracas. President Donald Trump has stated that Venezuela - which holds the world's largest proven oil reserves - "will hand over" up to 50 million barrels of oil, valued at approximately $2.8 billion, to the US. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the oil will be sold "at market prices" and that the US will control how the revenues will be distributed, "in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people."