U.S. Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker Olina in Caribbean Amid Sanctions Crackdown

The U.S. military seized the oil tanker Olina in the Caribbean without incident, marking the fifth tanker taken in recent weeks to curb Venezuelan oil exports. The vessel had departed Venezuela under a false flag, and officials described it as part of a “ghost fleet” trying to evade U.S. forces. The move follows the U.S. removal of President Nicolás Maduro and has drawn criticism from opposition lawmakers who called it “theft” of Venezuelan oil.

The United States military has apprehended the oil tanker Olina in the Caribbean early on Friday, conducting the operation “without incident,” according to a post by the U.S. Southern Command on X. The seizure is part of a broader U.S. effort to restrict Venezuelan oil exports and enforce sanctions against vessels attempting to evade U.S. control.
U.S. Southern Command highlighted that operations like this are supported by the full capabilities of the U.S. Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group, which includes the USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio, and USS Fort Lauderdale. The command emphasized that joint interagency forces are sending a clear message: “There is no safe haven for criminals.”
Industry sources reported that the Olina had departed from Venezuela last week and was flying the flag of Timor-Leste, a false claim meant to disguise its origin. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the Olina as part of a “ghost fleet” of tanker ships attempting to evade U.S. authorities. She stated that these ghost fleets “will not outrun justice” and “will not hide under false claims of nationality.”
This is the fifth tanker seized by the U.S. government in recent weeks as part of President Donald Trump’s policy to limit Venezuela’s oil exports. Earlier in the week, U.S. forces also intercepted two Russian-flagged tankers in the North Atlantic and Caribbean, which were linked to Venezuela’s oil industry.
The seizure of the Olina follows the recent kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, after which Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed leadership as interim president. Rodríguez, who condemned Maduro’s abduction, has expressed willingness to engage in energy relations with the United States, while Trump has threatened consequences if she does not cooperate.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Venezuelan oil taken by the U.S. would be sold at market rates rather than the discounted prices Venezuela had been receiving, claiming that the proceeds would be managed to benefit the Venezuelan people rather than the Maduro regime.
The U.S. administration’s actions have drawn criticism from some Democratic lawmakers, who described the seizures as tantamount to stealing Venezuelan oil at gunpoint. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut called the scope of the operations “absolutely stunning,” raising concerns about the legality and long-term implications of the U.S. strategy in Venezuela.