US seized another oil tanker in Caribbean Sea - Olina

On January 9, 2026, U.S. forces, including the Coast Guard and Joint Task Force Southern Spear personnel launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford — boarded and took control of the 114,809-deadweight-ton tanker Olina near Trinidad without incident. The vessel was previously known as Minerva M and had been sanctioned not only by the U.S. but also by the UK, EU, Australia, Canada, and other partners for its role in transporting oil in defiance of international sanctions.

Impact of this action -

• Sanctions enforcement gets real: The Olina was sailing under a false flag, a common tactic among so-called “shadow fleet” tankers that disable tracking systems and reflag to disguise their operations.

  
  

• Part of a wider campaign: This action is part of a series of U.S. interdictions targeting vessels thought to be carrying Venezuelan crude — including earlier seizures like M Sophia and Bella 1 (now Marinera).

The aggressive enforcement underscores Washington’s strategic push to disrupt illicit oil networks and assert influence over Venezuela’s oil trade, drawing criticism from Caracas, Moscow, and other governments.

As the USA expands oversight in international waters, maritime trade and global energy markets are entering a more contested phase — where enforcement actions at sea increasingly shape geopolitical and economic outcomes.

Image credit - AI