The United States has seized another illegal oil tanker tied to sanctions evasion, reinforcing an aggressive crackdown on so-called “ghost fleet” vessels operating in international waters.
According to Kristi Noem, U.S. forces early Friday boarded and seized the Motor Tanker Olina, a ship suspected of transporting embargoed Venezuelan oil while attempting to evade U.S. enforcement.
The operation was carried out by the United States Coast Guard in international waters east of the Caribbean Sea. Authorities say the tanker had departed Venezuela and was operating under false nationality claims, a common tactic used by vessels involved in sanctions-busting oil shipments.
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“This vessel was part of the ghost fleet,” Noem said in a statement. “They will not hide under false claims of nationality. The Coast Guard will seize sanctioned oil tankers, enforce U.S. and international law, and eliminate funding streams for illicit activity, including narco-terrorism.”
Federal officials say the boarding was conducted with coordination from the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Justice, ensuring the seizure complied with international maritime law.
The Caribbean Sea has increasingly become a focal point for U.S. interdiction efforts as sanctioned oil producers rely on aging tankers, fake flags, and disabled tracking systems to move crude outside lawful markets.
U.S. officials say this seizure marks another step in dismantling illicit oil networks that fund organized crime, sanctioned regimes, and transnational trafficking operations.
“This is owning the sea,” Noem said.
The tanker remains under U.S. control as authorities determine its cargo, ownership structure, and potential forfeiture.
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- NMD Staff
Staff@NewMediaDetroit.com