A Russian oil tanker linked to Moscow’s notorious “shadow fleet” has been intercepted in the Caribbean after reportedly sailing from Venezuela, marking another escalation in Washington’s efforts to disrupt sanctions-evading oil shipments and illicit trade routes.
The vessel, identified as the Olina, was seized by the U.S. Coast Guard during an early-morning operation in international waters. Authorities say the tanker was operating deceptively by flying the flag of East Timor, a common tactic used by ships attempting to conceal ownership, evade sanctions, and bypass maritime regulations.
According to U.S. officials, the Olina was transporting Russian oil and has been involved in exporting crude and petroleum products from Russian ports in the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and Pacific regions. These shipments are believed to be primarily destined for China, India, and Turkey, key buyers of discounted Russian energy since Western sanctions intensified.
The interdiction was carried out by marines and sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, deployed from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford. U.S. Southern Command confirmed that the boarding occurred without resistance, underscoring the growing operational reach of American naval forces in enforcing sanctions compliance.
Industry sources indicate the tanker had departed Venezuela fully loaded with oil shortly after the dramatic January 3 seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. Following Washington’s tightening blockade on Venezuelan oil exports, the Olina reportedly attempted to return toward Venezuelan waters, raising further red flags among U.S. and allied monitoring agencies.
The United States had already sanctioned the tanker last year when it operated under the name Minerva M, citing its role in Russia’s shadow fleet an informal network of aging, poorly insured vessels accused of operating outside international norms. These ships often disable tracking systems, falsify documentation, and move oil through opaque trade routes.
Maritime risk analysts have noted that the Olina’s AIS tracking system had been inactive for nearly two months, with its last known signal detected inside Venezuela’s exclusive economic zone near Curaçao. Such behavior is widely viewed as a deliberate attempt to obscure movements and avoid detection.
Reports suggest this seizure is part of a wider enforcement campaign. Multiple tankers linked to sanctioned Venezuelan and Russian oil are reportedly attempting to evade a growing maritime blockade, with at least one already boarded and others retreating.
The crackdown aligns with the Trump administration’s increasingly aggressive posture. President Donald Trump has openly signaled a willingness to escalate beyond maritime actions, framing the effort as a fight against illegal oil trade, sanctions evasion, and alleged drug trafficking networks operating out of Venezuela.
Unsurprisingly, Caracas has condemned these operations, labeling them acts of piracy and accusing Washington of violating international law. The incident adds to ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela over oil exports, sanctions enforcement, and regional security tensions that continue to destabilize the Caribbean and Latin America.
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