US Forces Seize Oil Tanker Linked to Venezuelan Sanctions

Sat Jan 10 2026 22:25:03 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The US military has intercepted the Olina oil tanker in the Caribbean, marking the fifth vessel seized in recent weeks as part of efforts to curb Venezuelan oil exports.

US Southern Command has reported the seizure of the Olina, an oil tanker suspected of transporting embargoed oil from Venezuela. This operation, conducted in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, signifies ongoing US efforts to enforce sanctions against Venezuelan oil exports amidst a broader strategy to combat alleged criminal activities at sea.

US forces have seized another tanker in the Caribbean Sea, officials said, as Washington continues its efforts to control exports of Venezuelan oil.

Once again, our joint interagency forces sent a clear message this morning: 'there is no safe haven for criminals,' US Southern Command said on X.

The X post on Friday morning stated that Marines and sailors, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended the Olina oil tanker.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the Olina was another 'ghost fleet' tanker ship suspected of carrying embargoed oil and was seized after it departed Venezuela attempting to evade US forces.

Noem posted a video online appearing to show troops dropping onto the ship from a helicopter. The tanker, the Olina, is on multiple countries' sanctions lists.

It is the fifth vessel seized by the US in recent weeks.

Maritime risk company Vanguard Tech indicated that the vessel had been trying to break through the US naval blockade in the Caribbean.

The company added that the vessel's location tracker was last active 52 days ago, northeast of Curacao, noting that the seizure follows a prolonged pursuit of tankers linked to sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments in the region.