The US has seized another sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, US Southern Command mentioned on Friday.
US troops, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, “launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford and apprehended Motor/Tanker Olina in the Caribbean Sea without incident,” the command mentioned in a social media post.
The Olina tanker was crusing close to Venezuela underneath a Timor-Leste flag, in line with Marine Traffic.
The crude oil tanker had been sanctioned by the United States, in line with the Treasury Department, which listed it underneath a special title and Panama flag however used the similar distinctive ship figuring out quantity as the Olina. It was listed underneath Ukraine/Russia-related sanctions.
“Apprehensions like this are backed by the full power” of the US Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group, the command mentioned, referring to a gaggle of warships that conducts air, sea and land operations.
The information comes after the US seized two Venezuela-linked tankers this week, together with a Russian-flagged vessel in the Atlantic Ocean and another tanker in the Caribbean.
The White House mentioned earlier this week that President Donald Trump was “not afraid” to proceed seizing sanctioned oil tankers regardless of issues that it might ratchet up tensions with Russia and China.
“He’s going to enforce our policy that’s best for the United States of America,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt advised reporters at a press briefing on Wednesday. “That means enforcing the embargo against all dark fleet vessels that are illegally transporting oil.”
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