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US seizing false flagged tanker enroute from Venezuela
U.S. forces have seized the 'Olina'in the Caribbean near Trinidad on Jan 9, 2026. The operation marked the 5th interdiction of Venezuelan crude shipments in recent weeks. The vessel was flying a false Timor-Leste flag after departing from Venezuela, a tactic increasingly linked to “shadow fleet” tankers trying to evade international oversight. Its AIS was last active in Nov 2025, showing the vessel off the coast of South America in Venezuela’s EEZ, northeast of Curaçao. Prior to that the vessel had called at ports in South Korea and China. The 'Olina' had loaded oil at the José Terminal in Venezuela on Dec 24-25, 2025, and began transiting through the Caribbean between Jan 2 and Jan 4. The ownership has been registered in Hong Kong under Tantye Peur Ltd. since July 2025. The 'Olina' has been blacklisted not just by the United States, but also by the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, Canada and other international partners for its role in moving oil in defiance of sanctions. The US Treasury Department had listed it under a different name, the 'Minerva M' and Panama flag, but used the same unique ship identifying IMO number as the 'Olina'. It was listed under Ukraine/Russia-related sanctions. It was unclear what country the tanker was registered with, as the Olina tanker has been listed as sailing near Venezuela under a Timor-Leste flag but also under an “unknown flag.” Report with photo and video: https://www.dw.com/en/us-seizes-venezuela-linked-olina-oil-tanker-in-caribbean/a-75454021 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CYnxix6mDgY&pp=0gcJCTIBo7VqN5tD
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