US forces seize fifth sanctioned oil tanker near Venezuela, escalating maritime pressure. The move comes amid Russian criticism of similar interceptions, widening diplomatic ripples.
The U.S. Navy’s seizure of the tanker Olina reinforces a hardened policy of using maritime power to enforce sanctions on Venezuela. (Image: X)
WASHINGTON, D.C., United States, January 9 — States naval forces have seized another oil tanker near Venezuela, marking the fifth such interception in a sustained campaign against sanctioned shipping. The pre-dawn capture of the Motor-Tanker Olina highlights Washington’s escalating use of military assets to enforce economic pressure on the government of Nicolás Maduro.
In the early hours, U.S. Marines and Sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear boarded and took control of the Olina in the Caribbean Sea. The operation launched from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and involved support from other warships. U.S. Southern Command stated the seizure was conducted “without incident” and in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security. Officials have not yet clarified if the U.S. Coast Guard participated.
The Olina is the fifth vessel captured as part of a clear U.S. strategy to physically disrupt Venezuela’s oil trade. This follows the U.S. government’s rejection of Maduro’s 2024 re-election and its recognition of a different political leader. Each seizure aims to cut off a vital financial lifeline for Caracas.
The action also arrives at a diplomatically sensitive moment. Just a day prior, Russia condemned the U.S. seizure of a separate, Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic. Moscow warned such acts lower the “threshold for the use of force” and could escalate tensions, potentially affecting other negotiations.
The operation is part of “Operation Southern Spear,” a military-led effort described as defending the U.S. homeland by ending illicit activity. A U.S. Southern Command post on X stated, “there is no safe haven for criminals.” The military emphasizes these actions are backed by a full Amphibious Ready Group, signaling a long-term, naval-centric approach to sanctions enforcement far from U.S. shores. This moves beyond traditional monitoring to active, physical interdiction.
Once again, our joint interagency forces sent a clear message this morning: “there is no safe haven for criminals.”
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) January 9, 2026
In a pre-dawn action, Marines and Sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, launched from the USS Gerald R.… pic.twitter.com/StHo4ufcdx
A: The U.S. seized the Motor-Tanker Olina in the Caribbean Sea.
A: The U.S. is enforcing sanctions aimed at restricting the global sale of Venezuelan oil, a key source of revenue for President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
A: No. U.S. Southern Command reported the apprehension of the Olina was conducted “without incident.”
A: Russia strongly condemned the U.S. seizure of a different tanker, the ‘Bella 1’ or ‘Marinera’, calling it an escalation that threatens peaceful shipping.
