The U.S. has seized the Olina tanker in the Caribbean, the fifth vessel targeted in recent weeks as Washington steps up efforts to curb Venezuelan oil exports, U.S. officials said on Friday (January 9).

Monochrome video showed a helicopter flying next to the tanker and U.S. troops later on board.

Reuters verified that the tanker seen in the video is the Olina from the deck, superstructure and smokestack which matched file imagery of the vessel. The date the video was filmed was verified by a statement from U.S. officials saying they seized the vessel on Friday (January 9).

The Olina, which according to public shipping database Equasis was falsely flying the flag of Timor Leste, previously sailed from Venezuela and had returned to the region, said an industry source with direct knowledge of the matter.

In a pre-dawn move, marines and sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, launched from the carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, apprehended the Olina in the Caribbean Sea "without incident", the U.S. Southern Command said on X.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

US seizes Olina tanker in Caribbean, fifth vessel taken in Venezuela blockade

VIDEO SHOWS: MONOCHROME VIDEO SHOWING OLINA TANKER BEING APPREHENDED IN CARIBBEAN

VERIFICATION LINES:

- Design of the tanker deck, superstructure and smokestack matched file imagery of the Olina

- Date verified by statement from U.S. officials saying they seized the vessel on Friday (January 9)

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: AT SEA (JANUARY 9, 2026) (US SOUTHERN COMMAND - Must on-screen courtesy US Southern Command) (MONOCHROME) (MUTE)

1. HELICOPTER FLYING NEXT TO OLINA TANKER

2. VARIOUS OF U.S. TROOPS ON BOARD OLINA

3. OLINA IN CARIBBEAN SEA