US forces have intercepted and seized the oil tanker 'Olina' in the Caribbean Sea, a move reported as the fifth such action by the Trump administration in its campaign against vessels linked to sanctioned Venezuelan oil exports. The operation, carried out in international waters, involved the US Coast Guard boarding the motor tanker after it departed Venezuela and attempted to evade American forces. The 'Olina,' previously known as Minerva M, was sanctioned for transporting Russian oil and was described as part of a 'shadow fleet' or 'ghost fleet' that operates with opaque ownership and false flags, in this case, Timor-Leste, to circumvent sanctions. This seizure is a continuation of a broader effort by the Trump administration to control the distribution of Venezuela's oil products globally. US Southern Command emphasized that there is "no safe haven for criminals" involved in illicit activities. The operation was coordinated with departments including Homeland Security, the State Department, and the Justice Department, and was launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier. The US actions, including a naval quarantine enacted in December 2025 as part of 'Operation Southern Spear,' have targeted multiple tankers, with other vessels like the 'Marinera' (formerly Bella 1) and 'M Sophia' also being seized recently. Russia has strongly condemned these seizures, warning that such actions lower the threshold for the use of force against peaceful shipping and risk further escalation in international tensions. The reporting, while dated January 2026, consistently refers to actions under the 'Trump administration,' indicating a possible hypothetical or re-contextualized news scenario.