U.S. authorities moved to seize another tanker linked to sanctioned Venezuelan oil on Jan. 9, 2026, a step officials said marked the fifth interdiction in recent weeks.
The vessel, identified as the Olina, was stopped in the Caribbean near Trinidad, according to officials familiar with the operation. The action is part of stepped-up maritime enforcement focused on ships suspected of carrying embargoed cargoes or operating under false flags.
U.S. officials said the Olina had sailed from Venezuela and reappeared in the region before the interdiction. Shipping records indicated the tanker was falsely registered with Timor Leste, based on data reviewed by maritime databases.
The military described the operation as a coordinated effort with the Coast Guard that aligned with recent guidance to counter sanctioned oil shipments around Venezuela.
Coast Guard and task force move on the Olina
Two U.S. officials said the Coast Guard, supported by joint task force elements, executed the overnight action in the Caribbean.
The military later posted a statement saying it was committed to ending illicit activity at sea and to restoring security in the Western Hemisphere. Officials did not immediately detail the boarding sequence or identify which cutters or aircraft were involved.
Authorities said the Olina would be escorted to a U.S. port for final disposition, which can include forfeiture proceedings if a federal court finds the ship or its cargo subject to seizure. Investigators are expected to examine logs, communications and cargo documentation to determine the scope of any sanctions violations.
Crew processing typically includes interviews and coordination with consular officials from the flagged or claimed-flag state.
Earlier seizures set the stage
The latest move followed a high-profile seizure in the North Atlantic on Jan. 7, 2026, when U.S. forces boarded the Marinera, a Russian-flagged tanker previously known as Bella 1. That operation capped a weeks-long pursuit that began near the Caribbean and continued after the ship changed its name and flag. U.S. European Command said the boarding was carried out under a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after tracking by Coast Guard assets.
On the same day, U.S. Southern Command announced the separate seizure of the M/T Sophia in the Caribbean. The command described Sophia as a stateless, sanctioned dark-fleet motor tanker conducting illicit activities in international waters. The Coast Guard is escorting the ship to the United States, where authorities will determine the next legal steps.
Officials and maritime analysts said the rapid sequence of interdictions reflected a broader effort to deter shadow fleet practices such as name changes, reflagging and disabling vessel transponders. Enforcement actions have focused on suspected ship-to-ship transfers and voyages originating near Venezuelan terminals.
Russia’s response and reports of naval escorts
Moscow said on Jan. 9, 2026, that the United States had released two Russian crew members from the Marinera following a request from the Russian Foreign Ministry. Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Russia welcomed the decision and was working on arrangements to return the sailors home. Russian agencies had earlier reported losing contact with the ship after the U.S. boarding near Iceland.
President Donald Trump told a U.S. television interviewer late Thursday that Russia had dispatched a submarine and a destroyer to protect the tanker, adding that the vessels left when U.S. forces arrived. Separate reporting this week said Russia moved naval assets after Washington tightened enforcement near Venezuela.
Wire services noted they could not independently verify the positions of Russian ships during the boarding in the North Atlantic.
Russian officials criticized the U.S. seizures, accusing Washington of violating maritime law and interfering with trade. U.S. authorities have maintained that court warrants, sanctions statutes and the status of stateless vessels provide the legal basis for boarding and seizures on the high seas.
