U.S. Marines and Sailors conducted a pre-dawn raid on Friday to seize a sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. Southern Command confirmed that the vessel, the Motor Tanker Olina, was apprehended without incident.
The high-stakes operation was launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford. It involved a massive show of force from the Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group.
Joint Task Force Southern Spear coordinated with the Department of Homeland Security for the seizure. This marks the fifth such apprehension of a "ghost fleet" tanker in recent weeks.
The Olina had reportedly turned off its location tracker 52 days ago near Venezuela. It was flying the flag of Timor-Leste to evade detection by American authorities.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a stern warning following the successful mission. “The world's criminals are on notice,” Noem wrote on X.
She emphasized that sanctioned tankers can no longer hide under false claims of nationality. Noem vowed to continue eliminating funding streams for narco-terrorism and illicit activity.
The Olina was previously sanctioned for its role in transporting Russian oil. This seizure is expected to further heighten tensions between Washington and Moscow.
The move follows the recent capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and his wife. The Trump administration is aggressively enforcing an embargo on Venezuelan and Russian energy shipments.
Operation Southern Spear remains "unwavering" in its mission to restore security in the Western Hemisphere. The U.S. Navy has deployed multiple lethal platforms to patrol the region's waters.
Maritime risk experts noted the Olina had been part of a "prolonged pursuit." The vessel is suspected of carrying millions of barrels of sanctioned crude oil.
The U.S. Coast Guard played a central role in the boarding and seizure. Secretary Noem praised the "relentless execution" of the mission by the service members involved.
This latest action reinforces the "Don-roe Doctrine" of reasserting American dominance in the region. The White House maintains there is "no safe haven" for those violating international law.