U.S. Forces Seize Venezuelan-Linked Oil Tanker in Caribbean Sea Amid Sanctions Enforcement
MIAMI, Fla. — In a carefully coordinated pre-dawn mission, U.S. Marines and Sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, operating under the aegis of the U.S. Southern Command, successfully boarded and seized the oil tanker Olina in the Caribbean Sea. The operation, conducted in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, was launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford and completed without incident, according to an official statement released on January 9, 2026.
The Olina, previously known as the Minerva M, has been under scrutiny for its role in transporting oil shipments linked to Venezuela, a country currently subject to stringent U.S. sanctions. The vessel, which flew the flag of Timor-Leste, had last transmitted its Automatic Identification System (AIS) location 52 days prior within Venezuela’s Exclusive Economic Zone northeast of Curaçao, as reported by British maritime risk firm Vanguard.
This seizure represents the fifth such interdiction in recent weeks as part of the ongoing campaign to enforce sanctions and disrupt illicit oil trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. The U.S. Southern Command emphasized that the operation was supported by the full might of the Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group, including the USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio, and USS Fort Lauderdale, underscoring the strategic priority placed on regional security.
“Operation Southern Spear is unwavering in its mission to defend our homeland by ending illicit activity and restoring security in the Western Hemisphere,” the command stated on its official website. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem remarked that the operation sends a clear message: “the world’s criminals are on notice.”
The Olina’s involvement in sanctioned activities is compounded by its prior designation by the U.S. Treasury Department for transporting Russian oil, a move that risks escalating tensions between Washington and Moscow. This development follows closely on the heels of another bold U.S. seizure of a tanker reportedly under Russian naval escort, highlighting the complex geopolitical dynamics at play.
Industry sources confirm that the Olina had previously departed from Venezuela and returned to the Caribbean region, reinforcing suspicions of its involvement in sanction-evading shipments. The U.S. Coast Guard’s role in the operation reflects its ongoing commitment to maritime law enforcement and the protection of U.S. interests, as outlined by the U.S. Coast Guard.
This latest interdiction occurred less than a week after a high-profile operation in Venezuela resulted in the arrest of dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cili Flores, signaling an intensification of U.S. efforts to counter illicit networks tied to the Maduro regime.
As the U.S. continues to apply pressure through sanctions and maritime enforcement, the message is clear: vessels engaged in sanction evasion will face decisive action. The Southern Command’s operation exemplifies a broader strategy to curtail illegal oil shipments that undermine international law and regional stability.
For further details on U.S. naval operations and sanctions enforcement, visit the U.S. Navy’s official site and the U.S. Treasury’s sanctions page.
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