The United States military has seized the Olina tanker in the Caribbean near Trinidad, marking the fifth successful interdiction of vessels linked to Venezuelan oil exports in recent weeks. This operation underscores ongoing US efforts to curb illicit oil shipments from Venezuela, a country facing extensive sanctions.
The Olina, previously identified as the Minerva M, was reportedly flying the flag of East Timor, a claim that has been deemed false according to public shipping database Equasis. The vessel had departed from Venezuela and was returning to the region, as noted by an industry source familiar with the situation. According to UK maritime risk management company Vanguard, the vessel’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracker was inactive for the last 52 days while it was situated northeast of Curacao within the Venezuelan Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
US Southern Command stated that the pre-dawn operation involved US Marines and Navy personnel, who have been part of a prolonged buildup of forces in the Caribbean. The Command emphasized that “there is no safe haven for criminals” in the region as they announced the seizure. Unclassified footage released on social media depicted a US helicopter landing on the vessel, with personnel conducting a thorough search of the deck.
The Olina had left Venezuelan waters fully loaded with oil just a week prior to its seizure, as part of a flotilla that departed shortly after the US took action against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3, 2023. Following the US blockade of Venezuelan oil exports, the vessel was reportedly returning loaded with oil back to Venezuela.
The Olina was placed under US sanctions in January 2022 due to its involvement in what officials describe as a “shadow fleet” of tankers operating with minimal regulatory oversight and often lacking known insurance. This fleet has been under scrutiny as the US intensifies efforts to disrupt the flow of oil from Venezuela, which is grappling with significant economic challenges and political turmoil.
As the situation evolves, the US military continues to monitor maritime activities in the region, aiming to enforce sanctions against entities associated with the Venezuelan oil industry. The implications of these operations extend beyond maritime law enforcement, impacting global oil markets and regional stability in the Caribbean.
