In a statement on Friday, the US Southern Command said that the United States has seized another sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea.
In a post on X, the Command said that it was a "pre-dawn action" through which marines and sailors from Joint task Force Southern Spear in coordination with the department of Homeland Security apprehended a tanker named Olina in the Caribbean Sea without incident.
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"Once again, our joint interagency forces sent a clear message this morning: 'there is no safe haven for criminals'," US Southern Command said.
Visuals of the interception can also be seen on the post.
'Operations backed by full power'
The US Southern Command added, "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."
In the recent weeks, Olina has become the fifth vessel to be captured by the United States.
Reportedly, the tanker left from Venezuela late on Sunday (January 4), after the US captured President Nicolas Maduro was captured in an early Saturday morning strike.
US is 'deeply proud'
In a post on X, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said that it was "another 'ghost fleet' tanker ship suspected of carrying embargoed oil".
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Noem's post read, "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 Venezuela attempting to evade U.S. forces."
Expressing pride for the Coast Guard's maritime firefighting force, Noem said, "The ghost fleets will not outrun justice. They will not hide under false claims of nationality."
