United States Confiscates Fifth Tanker Tied to Venezuela
Seizure Operation in the Caribbean
U.S. armed forces have seized another tanker in the Caribbean, officials say, as the Trump administration continues efforts to control oil exports from Venezuela. The tanker, named Olina, is on the sanctions lists of multiple countries and marks the fifth vessel confiscated by the U.S. in recent weeks.
The United States is using these seizures to pressure the interim government of Venezuela and eliminate the so-called dark fleet of oil tankers. Officials state that this fleet consists of over 1,000 vessels transporting sanctioned and illicit oil. "Once again, our interagency forces have sent a clear message this morning: 'There is no safe haven for criminals,'" said the U.S. Southern Command.
The ship departed Venezuelan waters on Sunday evening after the U.S. seized President Nicolás Maduro during a morning raid. Officials disclosed that Friday's operation was executed before dawn by the Navy and Marines in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, occurring after the vessel "left Venezuela attempting to evade U.S. forces."
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem posted on X that this is "yet another tanker from the 'ghost fleet' suspected of carrying embargoed oil." Noem also shared a video that appeared to show troops descending onto a ship from a helicopter, describing the operation as "safe" and "efficient."
The maritime risk company Vanguard Tech stated that the vessel was trying to pass through the U.S. naval blockade in the Caribbean. It was sailing under a false flag registered in Timor-Leste, according to the International Maritime Organization. Vanguard Tech added that the vessel's last active location was 52 days ago, northeast of Curacao, and that "the seizure follows an extended pursuit of tankers linked to sanctioned oil exports from Venezuela."
The U.S. imposed sanctions on the Olina tanker in January when it was known as Minerva M, accusing it of aiding Russia's war in Ukraine by moving Russian oil to external markets. Earlier this week, the U.S. announced the confiscation of two additional tankers linked to Venezuelan oil exports in "chain operations" in the North Atlantic and Caribbean.
One of those was Marinera, registered under a Russian flag, seized with support from the British Royal Navy, which provided logistical assistance by air and sea. Marinera is suspected of being part of a fleet transporting oil for Venezuela, Russia, and Iran, in violation of U.S. sanctions. American officials claim that Marinera was sailing under the flag of Guyana last month, rendering it stateless. Authorities alleged that the second tanker - M/T Sophia - was engaged in "illicit activities."
Experts have told BBC Verify that under international maritime law from the UN, authorities can board a stateless vessel. President Donald Trump has stated that Venezuela - which holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves - "will deliver" up to 50 million barrels of oil worth approximately $2.8 billion to the United States. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the oil will be sold "at market prices" and that the U.S. will control how the revenue is distributed "in a way that benefits the Venezuelan people."
Meanwhile, on Friday, American diplomats visited the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, to assess the possibility of reopening an embassy in the Latin American country. Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Venezuela were severed by Maduro in 2019. New Venezuelan authorities have stated they are engaged in exploratory discussions to restore relations.
