The US has launched an operation to detain the oil tanker Olina in the Caribbean Sea off Trinidad and Tobago, Reuters reported, citing a US official.
According to the source, this is the fifth such incident in recent weeks. The operations are part of Washington’s efforts to monitor and disrupt the illegal export of Venezuelan oil.
What is known about the vessel:
▪️ The tanker had previously departed from Venezuela.
▪️ The vessel was flying a Timor-Leste flag, the authenticity of which is questionable.
▪️ The Olina is linked to the so-called “shadow fleet” used to evade sanctions.
The US side is considering the case a sanctions violation. According to sources, the US is acting in concert with regional partners.
Ukrainian intelligence (GUR) claims the tanker may have been transporting Russian oil in defiance of sanctions. However, there is currently no official confirmation of this information from Reuters or the US.
🚨 Upd: The US Navy is pursuing several more tankers from the shadow fleet, which were loading in Venezuela, in the Atlantic Ocean, The New York Times reports, citing a US military official and satellite imagery.
Most of the vessels are loaded with oil and are heading east, towards Africa and Europe.
At least four of them recently re-registered as Russian.