In a daring pre-dawn move, the U.S. military seized the tanker Olina in the Caribbean Sea on Friday, January 9, 2026, marking the fifth such operation in a stepped-up effort to curb Venezuelan oil exports.

The operation, launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford by Marines and sailors of Joint Task Force Southern Spear, unfolded without incident in international waters east of the Caribbean, as confirmed by U.S. Southern Command on X, with coordination from the Department of Homeland Security and support from the Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group, including the USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio, and USS Fort Lauderdale.

At issue is the enforcement of sanctions and the broader implications of blocking Venezuelan oil, with many questioning whether such actions truly serve global stability or merely deepen economic strife in the region, The Daily Caller reported.

Olina's Suspicious Journey Under False Flag

The Olina, falsely flying the flag of Timor-Leste, had departed Venezuela last week loaded with oil as part of a flotilla, according to industry sources cited by Reuters.

Its location tracker had been dark for 52 days in Venezuela’s exclusive economic zone northeast of Curaçao, per British maritime risk management company Vanguard, raising red flags about its intentions.

Washington had already sanctioned this vessel back in January 2024 when it operated under the name Minerva M, signaling this isn’t the first time it’s been on the radar.

Flotilla Movements and PDVSA Ownership

While the Olina was intercepted, three other vessels from the same flotilla returned to Venezuelan waters on Thursday, January 8, 2026, with seven more expected to follow on Friday and Saturday, as reported by Reuters.

All oil aboard these 10 ships belongs to Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA, per industry sources, underscoring the stakes of this ongoing cat-and-mouse game on the high seas.

Earlier in the week, the Daily Caller noted the seizure of the Sophia, followed by the Bella 1 in the North Atlantic on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, showing this crackdown is far from a one-time occurrence.

Official Statements and Hidden Agendas

“The tanker had departed Venezuela attempting to evade U.S. forces,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, labeling the Olina as another “ghost fleet” tanker suspected of transporting embargoed oil.

While Noem’s words paint a picture of cunning evasion, one wonders if this ghost story is more about flexing muscle than catching actual phantoms—after all, crippling a nation’s economy doesn’t always win hearts or minds.

“The U.S. blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil remains in full effect anywhere in the world,” declared Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, doubling down on the hardline stance.

Weighing Justice Against Economic Fallout

Hegseth’s statement leaves no room for doubt about Washington’s resolve, but let’s not pretend this is just about justice—disrupting oil flows hits ordinary Venezuelans hardest, not just the elites.

These seizures, while legally grounded in sanctions, risk fueling narratives of overreach, especially when progressive agendas often cry foul over any display of American might, ignoring the lawbreaking at the root of the issue.

Balancing national security with humanitarian impact remains the tightrope here—upholding embargoes shouldn’t mean turning a blind eye to suffering, and perhaps it’s time for a strategy that punishes the guilty without breaking the backs of the innocent.