By SCM REPORTER
AMERICAN forces have seized another massive oil tanker off the coast of Trinidad as Washington moves to tighten its “stranglehold” on Venezuela’s energy exports.
The Olina, a vessel linked to a secretive “shadow fleet,” was intercepted by US authorities on Friday. It marks the fifth such high-seas operation in just a few weeks as the US ramps up a massive blockade against the crisis-hit South American nation.
The ship was reportedly flying a false Timor-Leste flag in a desperate bid to dodge detection. However, US officials told Reuters that the vessel had previously sailed from Venezuela and was being tracked as part of a mission to control the flow of the world’s largest oil reserves.
A US official confirmed the seizure is part of a wider effort to “control” Venezuela’s oil exports, ensuring that no crude leaves the country without Washington’s say-so.
Maritime experts at Vanguard, a British risk management firm, said the ship’s location tracker had been “dark” for 52 days before it was cornered northeast of Curacao.
The move follows the dramatic capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by US forces earlier this month.
President Donald Trump has since vowed to “run” the country’s oil industry, claiming the US will oversee the sale of up to 50 million barrels of “blockaded” crude to benefit the American people.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned this week that the US plans to control Venezuelan oil sales “indefinitely.”
Background: The Battle for the ‘Black Gold’
The seizure of the Olina is the latest chapter in a rapidly escalating global energy conflict.
Following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, the US has asserted direct control over Venezuela’s state-owned oil industry.
The Shadow Fleet: Vessels like the Olina (formerly known as the Minerva M) are part of a “dark fleet”—ships with no clear insurance or regulation that use false flags and turned-off transponders to bypass international sanctions.
A Growing Tally: The Olina joins at least four other vessels recently intercepted, including the Russian-flagged Marinera, which was seized in the North Atlantic with help from the British Royal Navy.
The Trump Plan: The White House has announced it will redirect Venezuelan oil—previously destined for China—to US refineries. President Trump claims the proceeds, estimated at over £2 billion, will be held in US-controlled accounts to “ensure peace” in the region.
UK Involvement: Britain remains a key player in the blockade, with Defence Secretary John Healey confirming that UK forces are assisting in the pursuit of “stateless” tankers that fuel “terrorism and conflict.”
