Pre-Dawn Blitz: Navy, Marines Seize Another Tramp Oil Hauler

We got another one.

The United States Navy and Marines have intercepted, boarded, and seized another sanctioned rogue oil tanker, the Olina, in the Caribbean Sea. U.S. Southern Command, which oversees the War Department's ongoing Operation Southern Spear, counted coup on its official X account.

Once again, our joint interagency forces sent a clear message this morning: “there is no safe haven for criminals.”

In a pre-dawn action, Marines and Sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, launched from the USS Gerald R.… pic.twitter.com/StHo4ufcdx
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) January 9, 2026

The post continues:

...launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford and apprehended Motor/Tanker Olina in the Caribbean Sea without incident.
Apprehensions like this are backed by the full power of the U.S. Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group, including the ready and lethal platforms of the USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio, and USS Fort Lauderdale.
The Department of War’s Operation Southern Spear is unwavering in its mission to defend our homeland by ending illicit activity and restoring security in the Western Hemisphere.

A Fox News story has more details:

U.S. Southern Command said the operation sent a clear message that "there is no safe haven for criminals."
"The vessel’s AIS (location) tracker was last active 52 days ago in the Venezuelan EEZ, northeast of Curaçao," British maritime risk management company Vanguard said, according to Reuters. "The seizure follows a prolonged pursuit of tankers linked to sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments in the region."
The Olina was reportedly flying the flag of Timor-Leste, according to Reuters, which cited Equasis. The vessel had previously sailed from Venezuela and returned to the region, Reuters reported, attributing the statement to an industry source with direct knowledge of the matter.

The Olina appears to be part of the nefarious "ghost fleet" that has been engaged in running sanctioned Venezuelan oil into every wretched hive of scum and villainy on the planet.

Boom: US Oil and Gas Association Levels the D.C. 'Lanyard Class' With Blistering Response on Venezuela

If previous seizures are any indication, the ship will likely be taken to a U.S. port and any cargo will be offloaded.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem released a statement on this latest seizure:

The world’s criminals are on notice.

Early this morning, the @USCG executed a boarding and seizure of the Motor Tanker Olina in international waters east of the Caribbean Sea. As another "ghost fleet" tanker ship suspected of carrying embargoed oil, this vessel had departed… pic.twitter.com/vvS3u3nrvl
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) January 9, 2026

The Secretary's post continues:

...this vessel had departed Venezuela attempting to evade U.S. forces.
Close coordination with the @DeptofWar, @StateDept, and @TheJusticeDept ensured a safe, effective boarding consistent with law.
The ghost fleets will not outrun justice. They will not hide under false claims of nationality. The Coast Guard will seize sanctioned oil tankers, enforce U.S. and international law, and eliminate these funding streams for illicit activity including narco-terrorism.
We are deeply proud of the Coast Guard's maritime fighting force for their relentless execution of this mission. This is owning the sea.

Now this is the muscular exercise of foreign and military policy. Venezuela now has an "interim" government, and we are working out deals to have any Venezuelan oil sales managed by the United States, not for the benefit of the remains of the Maduro junta, nor for the cartels, but for the Venezuelan people. Seizures of these sanctioned tankers, we should hope, would also ultimately benefit the Venezuelan people.

In the meantime, the seizures of these tramp tankers will continue - and all the people who were patronizing these rogue ships will, no doubt, be biting their thumbs in frustration. Good.

Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump and his administration’s bold leadership, we are respected on the world stage, and our enemies are being put on notice.

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