US Forces Intercept Another Sanctioned Oil Tanker in Caribbean Sea
In a pre-dawn operation carried out by Marines and Navy sailors from the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, US forces have intercepted another oil tanker suspected of carrying embargoed oil bound for Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea.
According to Southern Command, which has been deploying an extensive force in the region, "there is no safe haven for criminals" when it comes to sanctions evasions. The Coast Guard took control of the vessel after the US boarding operation.
The tanker, Olina, was previously sanctioned under its prior name, Minerva M, and had been flagged in Panama before changing its flag to Timor-Leste. However, according to international shipping registry records, the registration is not valid.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted unclassified footage on social media showing a US helicopter landing on the vessel and US personnel conducting a search of the deck. The footage also appears to show an explosive device being tossed in front of a door leading into the ship.
Noem described the Olina as another "ghost fleet" tanker suspected of carrying embargoed oil, which had departed Venezuela attempting to evade US forces. This is the fifth tanker seized by US forces under President Donald Trump's administration as part of efforts to control the distribution of Venezuela's oil products globally.
While officials claim the seizures are aimed at enforcing sanctions and preventing illicit activities, other officials have framed them as a way to generate cash to fund US goals in Venezuela.
The administration aims to sell 30 million to 50 million barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan oil, with proceeds going to both the US and Venezuelan people. However, critics argue that this approach can have unintended consequences, such as fueling corruption and undermining legitimate efforts to improve the lives of Venezuelans.
US Vice President JD Vance has claimed that the US can "control" Venezuela's oil supply by dictating where it is sold, but experts warn that this approach risks exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.
In a pre-dawn operation carried out by Marines and Navy sailors from the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, US forces have intercepted another oil tanker suspected of carrying embargoed oil bound for Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea.
According to Southern Command, which has been deploying an extensive force in the region, "there is no safe haven for criminals" when it comes to sanctions evasions. The Coast Guard took control of the vessel after the US boarding operation.
The tanker, Olina, was previously sanctioned under its prior name, Minerva M, and had been flagged in Panama before changing its flag to Timor-Leste. However, according to international shipping registry records, the registration is not valid.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted unclassified footage on social media showing a US helicopter landing on the vessel and US personnel conducting a search of the deck. The footage also appears to show an explosive device being tossed in front of a door leading into the ship.
Noem described the Olina as another "ghost fleet" tanker suspected of carrying embargoed oil, which had departed Venezuela attempting to evade US forces. This is the fifth tanker seized by US forces under President Donald Trump's administration as part of efforts to control the distribution of Venezuela's oil products globally.
While officials claim the seizures are aimed at enforcing sanctions and preventing illicit activities, other officials have framed them as a way to generate cash to fund US goals in Venezuela.
The administration aims to sell 30 million to 50 million barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan oil, with proceeds going to both the US and Venezuelan people. However, critics argue that this approach can have unintended consequences, such as fueling corruption and undermining legitimate efforts to improve the lives of Venezuelans.
US Vice President JD Vance has claimed that the US can "control" Venezuela's oil supply by dictating where it is sold, but experts warn that this approach risks exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.
- like they're just being used as pawns to line someone's pockets. The whole thing feels so fishy to me... I mean, who flags a ship up and then just changes its registration on the fly? 
It's not exactly hard to track down illicit activities when you've got resources this big behind it.
! I'm all about fairness and transparency when it comes to sanctions, but these seizures have got me thinking... what's really going on here? 
Are we just playing a game of cat and mouse with Venezuela's economy, or is there something more to it? 
It feels like we're just perpetuating a cycle of corruption and exploitation.
, but it seems to me that we need to take a step back and think about the bigger picture here. What's really at stake? Is it just about oil, or is there something more profound going on? 
. I mean, selling 30-50 million barrels of oil is a huge amount, but is it really worth risking fueling corruption and undermining humanitarian efforts? 
.
. Is it that hard to keep track of everything? 
And what's with the "ghost fleet" term? Are we just making this up as we go along? 
. How do they plan on making sure the proceeds get where they need to go? 
just saw this news and gotta say, sanctions evasions are getting crazy! 
i mean, can't they see that just trying to sell sanctioned oil is gonna fuel corruption and make things worse for venezuelans? 
... what do u guys think US should be focusin on instead of playin with oil supply? 
It seems to me that the US is getting caught up in a game of cat and mouse with Venezuela, but what about the human cost? 
and now they're gonna sell it and claim they're helping the venezuelan people? 
and what's with all these seizures? is it really about stopping illicit activities or is it more about controlling the flow of oil to dictate US policy? 
OMG you guys I'm literally so stoked to see those US Marines and Navy sailors taking down another oil tanker trying to break sanctions! 
It's like they're saying "nope not on our watch" 
It's all about transparency and accountability, right? 
This whole thing with the Olina tanker just reminds me of those Cold War days. I mean, what's the point of having a "safe haven" for sanctions evasions if it just leads to more corruption and instability? 
It's like they're chasing their tail here.
It sounds like a logistical nightmare. And what about the environmental impact? Are they gonna just dump all that oil somewhere? 