US forces seize oil tanker Olina near Trinidad in Caribbean operation

US military personnel boarded and seized the oil tanker Olina in the Caribbean near Trinidad early on Friday, the US military said, in an operation aimed at targeting sanctions-busting vessels travelling to and from Venezuela. Video footage posted by officials showed US forces landing on the ship’s deck.

Southern Command said the pre-dawn action was carried out by US marines and navy sailors from forces built up in the Caribbean and launched from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford, adding “there is no safe haven for criminals.” It is the fifth such interdiction in recent weeks, separate from earlier operations since the fall to strike suspected drug boats off the coast of Venezuela.

Southern Command posted unclassified footage of a US helicopter landing on the vessel and armed personnel conducting a deck search, saying the military acted in support of the US Coast Guard, which was in charge of the operation under the Department of Homeland Security. DHS secretary Kristi Noem said on X the ship was seized in international waters and described the vessel as part of a “ghost fleet” suspected of carrying embargoed oil, saying such ships “will not outrun justice.” Public shipping data and industry sources said the Olina had been running dark with its location beacon off and was last recorded in the Venezuelan economic zone; Equasis said the ship was flying the flag of Timor-Leste falsely and Vanguard said its AIS tracker was last active 52 days ago.

Key Topics

World, Olina, Gerald R Ford, Us Southern Command, Us Coast Guard, Venezuela