US continues crackdown against Venezuelan oil shipments, seizes third tanker in Caribbean Sea

Venezuela Crisis: The US military continued its crackdown against Venezuelan oil shipments for the third consecutive day, seizing an oil tanker named 'Olina' in the Caribbean Sea. The latest action by US forces has intensified the Donald Trump administration's crackdown on Venezuelan oil shipments.

What led to the incident?

The tanker was intercepted and seized in a pre-dawn operation by US Marines and Navy personnel. This is the fifth tanker seized by US forces as part of this operation.

What did the US military say?

The US Southern Command confirmed the seizure, sending a strong message that "there is nowhere left for criminals to hide." The US has now seized a total of five oil tankers since its efforts to remove Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro from power began.

The US Southern Command stated that there is no safe haven at sea for criminal activity. This action is part of a broader pressure campaign aimed at controlling Venezuela's oil distribution.

US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X (formerly Twitter), "The world's criminals have been put on notice. Early this morning, the US Coast Guard intercepted and seized the motor tanker Olina in international waters east of the Caribbean Sea. This was another so-called 'ghost fleet' tanker suspected of carrying sanctioned oil, which had departed from Venezuela and was attempting to evade US forces... The Coast Guard will seize sanctioned oil tankers, enforce US and international law, and cut off these sources of funding for illicit activities, including drug-related terrorism."

What are the earlier US actions against Venezuelan oil shipments?

Previously, the US military had seized the Russian-flagged tanker 'Marinera' in the North Atlantic, while another vessel was apprehended in the Caribbean Sea. This sparked a diplomatic spat between Moscow and Washington. According to reports, the US forces had been tracking the Marinera for several days. 

The Russian Ministry of Transport had called this a violation of international law. The crew of the ‘Marinera’ includes three Indian nationals, and Moscow has appealed to the United States for their safe release.

In addition, another tanker, the ‘M/T Sofia’," was also seized on suspicion of engaging in illicit activities. The tanker seized by the US was previously named ‘Bella One’. It had a crew of 28, including 17 Ukrainians, 6 Georgians, 3 Indians, and 2 Russian citizens.