US makes new seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker in the Caribbean; VIDEO

US shows new oil tanker seizure in the Caribbean Sea The United States seized a new Venezuelan oil tanker in the Caribbean, near Trinidad and Tobago, this Friday (9). The action was confirmed by the American government on social media, shortly after news agencies revealed the approach, the fifth in recent weeks. “Once again, our joint interagency forces sent a clear message this morning: ‘there is no safe haven for criminals’. The War Department’s Operation Southern Spear remains steadfast in its mission to defend our homeland, ending illicit activities and restoring security in the Western Hemisphere,” says the post, which also features a video (see below). The ship, identified as Olina, falsely sailed under the flag of Timor-Leste, according to the public navigation database Equasis. It had been sanctioned by the US since January last year, when it was still called Minerva M. US shows Coast Guard ship pairing with Marinera oil tanker during seizure operation in the North Atlantic Ocean on January 7, 2026. Disclosure/US Coast Guard The US Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, reposted the video of the operation and stated that it is part of the fleet of “ghost ships” trying to circumvent sanctions imposed by the American government: “We ensure a safe and effective approach that complies with the law. Ghost fleets will not escape justice. They will not hide behind false claims of nationality. The Coast Guard will seize sanctioned tankers, enforce U.S. and international laws, and eliminate these sources of funding for illicit activities, including narcoterrorism.” A maritime sector source told the Reuters news agency that the tanker had left Venezuela last week, fully loaded with oil, shortly after the US arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, and was returning to the country, also fully loaded. “The vessel’s AIS (location) tracker was last active 52 days ago in the Venezuelan EEZ, northeast of Curaçao. The seizure comes after a long pursuit of tankers linked to Venezuelan oil shipments subject to sanctions in the region,” says British maritime risk management company Vanguard. War pursuit on the high seas: understand how the US captured the clandestine oil tanker On Wednesday (7), there were two seizures of oil tankers on the same day: that of the Marinera (formerly Bella 1), linked to Venezuela and sailing under the Russian flag and the M/T Sophia, linked to Venezuela, flying the Panamanian flag. After the seizures, the US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, stated that the blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers “remains in force throughout the world”. US President Donald Trump imposed a “total blockade” on vessels in December. Two of them were intercepted in 2025. American soldiers entering the oil tanker Olina X / Reproduction

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