In recent weeks, the United States has seized five vessels. Olina left Venezuela and made an effort “to evade US forces,” according to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi
US seizes Venezuela-linked Olina oil tanker in Caribbean
Wesley Dockery with AP, Reuters
It is the fifth vessel seized by the United States in recent weeks. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Olina had departed Venezuela and attempted “to evade US forces.”
This frame grab from a video posted on US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s X account obtained on January 9, 2025, shows what she says is the US Coast Guard boarding and seizing the tanker Olina in international waters east of the Caribbean Sea on January 9, 2026
US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said that the US Coast Guard seized the oil tankerImage: US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s X account/AFP
The US military “apprehended” the Olina oil tanker in the Caribbean “without incident” early on Friday, the US Southern Command posted on X.
“Apprehensions like this are backed by the full power of the US Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group, including the ready and lethal platforms of the USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale,” the post added, referring to three ships.
US Southern Command said joint interagency forces sent the message: “There is no safe haven for criminals.”
US President Donald Trump said later on Friday that the tanker was on its way back to Venezuela and that the oil it is carrying would be sold.
‘Ghost fleet’ tanker
Reuters news agency reported, based on an industry source, that Olina had departed from Venezuela last week and that it was falsely flying the flag of Timor-Leste.
US seizes Venezuela-linked Olina oil tanker in Caribbean
Wesley Dockery with AP, Reuters
It is the fifth vessel seized by the United States in recent weeks. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Olina had departed Venezuela and attempted “to evade US forces.”
https://p.dw.com/p/56b2L
This frame grab from a video posted on US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s X account obtained on January 9, 2025, shows what she says is the US Coast Guard boarding and seizing the tanker Olina in international waters east of the Caribbean Sea on January 9, 2026
US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said that the US Coast Guard seized the oil tankerImage: US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s X
The US military “apprehended” the Olina oil tanker in the Caribbean “without incident” early on Friday, the US Southern Command posted on X.
“Apprehensions like this are backed by the full power of the US Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group, including the ready and lethal platforms of the USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale,” the post added, referring to three ships.
US Southern Command said joint interagency forces sent the message: “There is no safe haven for criminals.”
US President Donald Trump said later on Friday that the tanker was on its way back to Venezuela and that the oil it is carrying would be sold.
‘Ghost fleet’ tanker
Reuters news agency reported, based on an industry source, that Olina had departed from Venezuela last week and that it was falsely flying the flag of Timor-Leste.
The USS Iwo Jima, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy takes part in the NATO exercise Trident Juncture 2018 near Trondheim, Norway, on October 29, 2018.The USS Iwo Jima, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy takes part in the NATO exercise Trident Juncture 2018 near Trondheim, Norway, on October 29, 2018.
The USS Iwo Jima (pictured above) backed up the seizure of the Olina tanker
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the Olina as a “ghost fleet” tanker ship, saying the vessel “departed Venezuela attempting to evade US forces.”
“The ghost fleets will not outrun justice. They will not hide under false claims of nationality,” Noem posted on X.
It’s the fifth tanker seized by the US government in recent weeks, as Trump aims to limit Venezuela’s oil exports.
On Wednesday, the US military seized two Russian-flagged oil tankers in the North Atlantic and Caribbean that are linked to Venezuela’s oil industry.
https://p.dw.com/p/56b2L
ConflictsVenezuela
US seizes Venezuela-linked Olina oil tanker in Caribbean
Wesley Dockery with AP,
It is the fifth vessel seized by the United States in recent weeks. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Olina had departed Venezuela and attempted “to evade US forces.”
This frame grab from a video posted on US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s X account obtained on January 9, 2025, shows what she says is the US Coast Guard boarding and seizing the tanker Olina in international waters east of the Caribbean Sea on January 9, 2026
US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said that the US Coast Guard seized the oil tankerImage: US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s X account/AFP
The US military “apprehended” the Olina oil tanker in the Caribbean “without incident” early on Friday, the US Southern Command posted on X.
“Apprehensions like this are backed by the full power of the US Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group, including the ready and lethal platforms of the USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio and USS Fort Lauderdale,” the post added, referring to three ships.
US Southern Command said joint interagency forces sent the message: “There is no safe haven for criminals.”
US President Donald Trump said later on Friday that the tanker was on its way back to Venezuela and that the oil it is carrying would be sold.
‘Ghost fleet’ tanker
Reuters news agency reported, based on an industry source, that Olina had departed from Venezuela last week and that it was falsely flying the flag of Timor-Leste.
The USS Iwo Jima, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy takes part in the NATO exercise Trident Juncture 2018 near Trondheim, Norway, on October 29, 2018.The USS Iwo Jima, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy takes part in the NATO exercise Trident Juncture 2018 near Trondheim, Norway, on October 29, 2018.
The USS Iwo Jima (pictured above) backed up the seizure of the Olina tanker (FILE: October 29, 2018)Image: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP
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US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the Olina as a “ghost fleet” tanker ship, saying the vessel “departed Venezuela attempting to evade US forces.”
“The ghost fleets will not outrun justice. They will not hide under false claims of nationality,” Noem posted on X.
It’s the fifth tanker seized by the US government in recent weeks, as Trump aims to limit Venezuela’s oil exports.
On Wednesday, the US military seized two Russian-flagged oil tankers in the North Atlantic and Caribbean that are linked to Venezuela’s oil industry.
US forces seize oil tankers tied to Venezuela
01:41
Seizure comes as US tightens grip on Venezuela’s oil after Maduro ouster
The seizure of the tanker comes after the US military kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro last weekend. Delcy Rodriguez, who served as vice president under Maduro, has now taken over as Venezuela’s interim leader.
Trump has threatened Rodriguez if she doesn’t cooperate with US demands. Rodriguez, who has condemned Maduro’s kidnapping, has said she is “open to energy relations” with the United States.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this week that the US would take Venezuelan oil and “sell it in the marketplace, at market rates, not at the discounts Venezuela was getting.”
