Overview
- Reuters and the Wall Street Journal report the detention near Trinidad and Tobago, and say the operation remains ongoing.
- Sources cited by reporters say the tanker was sailing under a false East Timor flag, and its registration matches the sanctioned vessel Minerva M.
- An industry source reported that Olina departed Venezuela fully loaded last week and later returned still carrying its cargo.
- The move follows U.S. detentions on January 7 of the tankers Bella 1 (renamed Marinera) and Sophia, both listed by the Treasury for transporting sanctioned oil.
- U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance called one seized ship a fake Russian tanker, while Russia’s Transport Ministry asserted temporary Russian flag permission and invoked UNCLOS protections.