US Seizes Venezuela Tanker: Caribbean Blockade Expands

WASHINGTON — The U.S. has seized the oil tanker Olina in the Caribbean, marking the fifth vessel targeted in recent weeks as Washington increases efforts to curb Venezuelan oil exports, U.S. officials said Friday.

Seizure of the Olina

The Olina, which was flying the flag of Timor Leste, had previously sailed from Venezuela and was returning to the region, according to an industry source with direct knowledge of the matter.

Marines and sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, launched from the USS Gerald R Ford, apprehended the Olina in the Caribbean Sea “without incident,” the U.S. Southern Command said on X. “Once again, our joint interagency forces sent a clear message this morning: ‘there is no safe haven for criminals,’” the command stated.

The Olina left Venezuela last week fully loaded with oil as part of a flotilla shortly after the U.S. seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Jan. 3. The vessel was returning fully loaded to Venezuela following the U.S. blockade of Venezuelan oil exports, the industry source said.

The vessel’s AIS (location) tracker was last active 52 days ago in the Venezuelan Exclusive Economic Zone, northeast of Curacao, according to British maritime risk management company Vanguard.

The seizure follows a prolonged pursuit of tankers linked to sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments in the region. The U.S. imposed sanctions on the tanker in January last year, when it was named the Minerva M, for being part of a “shadow fleet” of ships operating with little regulation or known insurance.

The M Sophia, another tanker from the same flotilla of a dozen vessels that left Venezuela earlier this month, was seized by U.S. forces earlier this week.

Three vessels – Skylyn, Min Hang and Merope – all fully loaded and part of the same flotilla, sailed back to Venezuelan waters on Thursday, according to the industry source. Seven additional tankers from that flotilla, also fully loaded, were set to return to Venezuelan waters on Friday and Saturday, the source added.

All of the oil on board these 10 tankers is owned by Venezuelan state producer PDVSA, the source said. PDVSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It was unclear whether Washington would take action on the other tankers sailing towards Venezuela. The U.S. blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil remains in full effect “anywhere in the world,” War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday.