The US military said on Friday that it “apprehended” an oil tanker in a pre-dawn operation in the Caribbean Sea, marking the fifth seizure of a Venezuela-linked vessel allegedly operating in violation of sanctions.
US Southern Command said in a statement that Marines and sailors, working in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, launched from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and captured the tanker, Olina, “without incident.”
It appears to be the first time that the US has directly acknowledged the Ford’s involvement in the five boarding and seizure operations that began in early December. However, the government has indicated that the carrier was used for at least one of the other missions.
The Ford is the Navy’s largest, newest, and most advanced aircraft carrier. It carries dozens of embarked fighter jets, early warning planes, and helicopters and was deployed to the Caribbean in the fall as part of the massive build-up of military forces in the region.
Last year, the US imposed sanctions on Olina, which was flying the flag of Panama and named Minerva M at the time, according to a Treasury Department document.
Data from MarineTraffic, a ship-tracking site, showed that the tanker was off Venezuela’s coast several weeks ago and was sailing under the flag of Timor-Leste.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called Olina a “ghost fleet” tanker that was suspected of carrying embargoed oil and “had departed Venezuela attempting to evade US forces.”
US Southern Command
The US announced a naval blockade on sanctioned oil tankers trying to enter or leave Venezuela last month as part of an effort to pressure the country’s then-President Nicolás Maduro.
The operation on Friday marks the third tanker seizure this week. US forces captured two vessels on Wednesday: one in the North Atlantic after a dramatic, weekslong chase and another near the Caribbean. The American military boarded two other vessels — Skipper and Centuries — last month.
“The ghost fleets will not outrun justice. They will not hide under false claims of nationality,” Noem said on Friday, adding that the US will continue to seize sanctioned tankers.
The Trump administration’s pressure campaign against Maduro and Venezuela, which included the naval blockade, also consisted of the deployment of warships, military aircraft, and thousands of troops to the Caribbean.
Since early September, US forces have carried out dozens of airstrikes on alleged drug boats, with President Donald Trump routinely suggesting that he may take action against Venezuela.
Tensions between Trump and Maduro culminated last weekend in a dramatic surprise operation and raid to capture the former Venezuelan president.
In the days since, Trump has threatened additional action against neighboring countries, including Mexico, Cuba, and Colombia.
A US official told Business Insider on Thursday that the 12 Navy warships deployed to the Caribbean before the Maduro raid were still in the region, with no scaling down of forces yet.
