The U.S. Coast Guard boarded a fifth oil tanker early Friday as part of ongoing operations to enforce sanctions against vessels transporting Venezuelan crude, according to U.S. officials. The tanker, identified as the Olina, previously known as Minerva M, was sanctioned for its role in moving Russian oil and is registered under an East Timor flag, though experts say it had been operating under a false identity.
U.S. officials reported that the crew offered no resistance during the boarding, which was conducted from the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier with support from Marines and other military personnel. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted on social media, declaring, “The ghost fleets will not outrun justice. They will not hide under false claims of nationality.”
The Olina reportedly loaded 700,000 barrels of Merey crude from Venezuela’s Jose terminal on December 24. The seizure is part of a broader Trump administration strategy to pressure Venezuela’s interim government and dismantle the so-called “dark fleet” — a shadowy armada of over 1,000 ships that move sanctioned or illicit oil globally while concealing their activities.
Approximately 70% of Venezuela’s oil exports currently rely on such sanctioned vessels to circumvent U.S. sanctions. Analysts note that Russia, Iran, and Venezuela have amassed aging tankers to maintain these flows, creating a complex network of vessels frequently operating under false flags or deceptive documentation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the seizure of tankers like the Olina strengthens U.S. leverage over Caracas, signaling that continued evasion of sanctions carries real consequences. “This blockade is the reason why we believe we have the strongest leverage possible,” Rubio said, following the earlier seizures of two other tankers.
The enforcement actions are also viewed as a message to Moscow, Beijing, and Tehran not to deepen alliances with Venezuela or violate U.S. sanctions. U.S. officials report that Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, has been informed of the need to comply with Washington’s pressure to wind down ties with adversarial states.
The ongoing seizures have heightened tensions with Russia. Earlier this week, the U.S. tracked the tanker Bella 1 across the Atlantic while Russian naval ships escorted it. Russian aircraft reportedly flew over Coast Guard vessels during the operation. In response, the Pentagon deployed AC-130J gunships, P-8 Poseidon aircraft, and special forces to support the seizure, according to Coast Guard Acting Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday.
“This was a legal operation,” Lunday told ABC News. “At no time was the Coast Guard concerned about Russian military presence interfering with our authority.”
Shipping analysts warn that the U.S. crackdown could further complicate Washington-Moscow relations, which are already tense due to the ongoing diplomatic standoff over Ukraine. Russia has recently allowed dark-fleet tankers near Venezuela to register domestically without standard inspections, highlighting the high-stakes contest over energy transport and enforcement of international sanctions.
