United States forces have seized another oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, marking the fifth vessel linked to Venezuelan oil exports intercepted by Washington in recent weeks.
US officials confirmed that the tanker, identified as Olina, was taken over during a pre-dawn operation coordinated by American Marines, sailors, and the Department of Homeland Security.
The seizure forms part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to curb what it describes as illicit oil shipments tied to Venezuela and its allies.
According to US authorities, the Olina is listed on multiple international sanctions registers and is suspected of being part of a vast network of vessels used to transport sanctioned crude oil.
The US military described the fleet as a “dark” or “ghost” fleet, estimating it comprises more than 1,000 ships worldwide.
In a statement on Friday, the US Southern Command said the operation sent a strong warning to operators involved in illegal oil trade, stressing that there would be “no safe haven” for those violating international sanctions.
Officials disclosed that the tanker departed Venezuelan waters late Sunday, shortly after US forces captured Venezuela’s interim leader, Nicolás Maduro, during a separate operation.
The Olina was reportedly intercepted while attempting to evade US naval forces in the Caribbean.
The US Department of Homeland Security described the tanker as a “ghost fleet” vessel suspected of carrying embargoed oil.
Footage released by US officials appeared to show troops descending onto the ship from a helicopter during the operation, which authorities described as safe and successful.
Maritime risk analysts said the Olina had been sailing under a false flag, allegedly registered to Timor-Leste, and had switched off its location tracking system more than seven weeks ago.
The tanker was reportedly trying to breach an informal US naval blockade in the region before it was seized.
The vessel was previously sanctioned by the United States last year under a different name, Minerva M, over allegations that it helped finance Russia’s war in Ukraine by transporting Russian oil to foreign markets.
Earlier in the week, US authorities also seized two other tankers linked to Venezuelan oil exports in rapid succession. One of them, a Russian-flagged vessel, was intercepted in the North Atlantic with logistical support from the United Kingdom.
US officials claimed the ship was part of a shadow fleet carrying oil for Venezuela, Russia, and Iran, in violation of sanctions.
Another tanker was accused of engaging in illicit maritime activities, with US officials citing international maritime law that allows authorities to board vessels considered stateless or operating under false registration.
President Donald Trump has said Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, would be compelled to hand over as much as 50 million barrels of oil to the United States.
US officials said the oil would be sold on the open market, with proceeds managed in a manner they claim would benefit the Venezuelan people.
The escalating seizures highlight growing tensions in the Caribbean and North Atlantic, as Washington intensifies efforts to dismantle sanction-evading oil networks linked to Venezuela and its partners.