The United States military has seized a fifth oil tanker in the Caribbean as part of an ongoing campaign targeting vessels linked to Venezuelan oil exports and international sanctions violations.
Officials said the operation reflects Washington’s continued effort to enforce restrictions on shipping networks it says are evading sanctions through false registration and covert operations.
The latest seizure comes amid heightened tensions following recent US actions against Venezuelan leadership and repeated warnings to shipping operators operating in the region.
US Southern Command said its forces apprehended the tanker Olina without incident during an early morning operation involving Marines and sailors.
The military described the vessel as part of a so-called ghost or dark fleet suspected of transporting embargoed oil while attempting to evade detection.
According to US government records, the Olina had previously operated under the name Minerva M and was sanctioned for moving Russian oil to foreign markets.
International shipping registries reported that the tanker was sailing under a false flag, with maritime experts noting attempts to bypass the US naval blockade.
The seizure followed the capture of two other tankers earlier in the week, including the Russian-flagged Marinera and the M/T Sophia, in coordinated operations across the Caribbean and North Atlantic.
US authorities said crews from seized vessels may face investigations for failing to comply with coastguard orders.
The seizures form part of a broader US strategy to pressure Venezuela and disrupt oil shipments linked to sanctioned governments.
US officials have said the actions are intended to remove illicit tankers from service and curtail financing tied to sanctioned oil trade.
Russia has condemned the seizure of its flagged vessel as a violation of international maritime law and has called for the release of detained crew members.
United Nations experts have criticized the US blockade, arguing that unilateral enforcement through military means constitutes illegal armed aggression.
They have also warned that plans to indefinitely control Venezuela’s oil industry could violate the country’s right to self-determination.
President Donald Trump said the United States would maintain its naval deployment in the region while claiming cooperation with Venezuela on rebuilding oil and gas infrastructure.
He added that a previously expected second wave of attacks had been cancelled, though enforcement actions against sanctioned tankers would continue.