In the pre-dawn darkness of the Caribbean Sea, US Marines and Navy sailors from the USS Gerald R. Ford boarded and seized the oil tanker Olina without resistance. This operation, the fifth such interception in recent weeks, underscores Washington’s aggressive campaign to disrupt Venezuela’s sanctioned oil trade.
Operation Southern Spear in Action
Joint Task Force Southern Spear, working with the Department of Homeland Security, led the Friday boarding. The US Coast Guard took control of the vessel afterward. Supporting the mission were the amphibious ready group vessels USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio, and USS Fort Lauderdale. US Southern Command stated the action delivered a clear message: there is no safe haven for criminals involved in illicit oil shipments.
The vessel, capable of carrying up to 890,000 barrels of oil valued at about $53 million at current market prices of $60 per barrel, had been operating covertly. Its automatic identification system last pinged 52 days earlier in Venezuela’s Exclusive Economic Zone northeast of Curaçao. Since November 2025, the Olina had run “dark,” with its location beacon disabled to dodge detection. British maritime risk firm Vanguard described the seizure as the culmination of a prolonged pursuit of tankers tied to sanctioned Venezuelan oil in the region.
A History of Sanctions Evasion
Government records show the Olina, previously known as the Minerva M, faced US sanctions for hauling Russian oil. Registered under a Timor-Leste flag, it was labeled a “false flag” operation by international shipping registries, signaling fraudulent registration. This shadowy background positioned it as a key target for US interdiction teams patrolling Caribbean waters.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called it part of a “ghost fleet” suspected of transporting embargoed Venezuelan oil. She emphasized that these vessels will not evade justice or hide behind false nationality claims, as the Coast Guard works to seize sanctioned tankers and cut funding for narco-terrorism and other illicit activities.
Escalation Under Trump Administration
In December 2025, President Trump announced a total blockade on sanctioned oil tankers moving to and from Venezuela. Operation Southern Spear focuses on the “dark fleet” of more than 1,000 vessels ferrying illegal oil for Venezuela, Russia, and Iran. The string of five seizures signals an unprecedented ramp-up in maritime enforcement.
The Olina takedown came days after US forces arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026. Vice President JD Vance stated on Fox News that these moves allow the US to control Venezuela’s oil revenues, or “purse strings,” by restricting sales and strangling funds for illicit operations.
Global Tensions and Legal Questions
Russia denounced the seizure as a gross violation of international maritime law and demanded the crew’s release. This follows the earlier US-UK seizure of the Russian-flagged Marinera in the Atlantic. The Wall Street Journal reported that such actions, targeting vessels with Russian ties, risk heightening US-Moscow friction.
Maritime law experts question the precedent of interdicting ships in international waters without undisputed jurisdiction. Details on the Olina’s crew—nationality, status, or composition—remain undisclosed, though Russia’s demands hint at possible Russian nationals aboard.
Britain’s Royal Navy provided support for the Marinera operation, highlighting expanding coalition efforts against Venezuelan, Russian, and Iranian oil sanctions breaches.
Broader Campaign Impact
The Olina, reportedly loaded fully upon leaving Venezuela, adds $53 million in seized oil to US holdings. The fate of confiscated cargoes—whether sold to fund operations or redirected—stays unclear.
These five interceptions in weeks represent a sharp surge against Venezuela’s shadow fleet, which employs evasion tactics across over 1,000 vessels. US forces aim to dismantle networks sustaining sanctions circumvention.
As Operation Southern Spear asserts naval control over Caribbean routes, it relies on ongoing military deployments, allied partnerships, and resolve. Rising diplomatic strains with Russia and debates over maritime law pose challenges, while the strategy’s success could reshape regional oil dynamics and enforcement norms.
Sources:
“U.S. forces seize oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea in pre-dawn mission.” Fox News, January 8, 2026.
“US seizes fifth oil tanker linked to Venezuela, officials say.” BBC News, January 9, 2026.
“US seizes another sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean.” CNN, January 9, 2026.
“US seizes Venezuela-linked Olina oil tanker in Caribbean.” Deutsche Welle (DW), January 9, 2026.
“US seizes Olina tanker in Caribbean, fifth vessel taken in Venezuela sanctions campaign.” Reuters, January 10, 2026.