Khaberni - The US military said today, Friday, that US forces boarded another oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, as the administration of US President Donald Trump continues to target tankers subject to sanctions heading to and from Venezuela.
The US Navy and Marines, participating in the ongoing month-long buildup of forces in the Caribbean, intercepted the tanker before dawn on Friday, according to the US Southern Command, which declared there is "no safe haven for criminals" when announcing the detention of the tanker "Oleina".
The US Southern Command released unclassified footage on social media showing a US helicopter landing on the tanker, and American personnel inspecting its deck.
The tanker Oleina is the fifth tanker seized by US forces as part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to control the distribution of Venezuelan oil products globally, following the US overthrow of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a surprise overnight raid.
A spokesperson for the US Southern Command told The Associated Press that the Navy and Marines provided support to the Department of Homeland Security, which was in charge of the operation.
The spokesperson did not respond to questions about whether the vessel was Venezuelan or under sanctions, indicating that these questions fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security.
