US is seizing oil tanker Olina in Caribbean, officials say

The United States is seizing the oil tanker Olina in the Caribbean near Trinidad. It is the fifth such ship ban in recent weeks, part of Washington’s efforts to control Venezuelan oil exports, two U.S. officials said Friday.

The Olina, which the state maritime database Equasis said was falsely flying the flag of Timor Leste, had already left Venezuela and returned to the region, an industry source with direct knowledge of the matter said.

“The ship’s AIS [location] The tracker was last active 52 days ago in the Venezuelan EEZ, northeast of Curacao,” British maritime risk management company Vanguard said separately.

“The seizure follows a prolonged pursuit of tankers linked to sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments to the region.”

The Olina left Venezuela last week, fully loaded with oil, as part of a flotilla shortly after the United States seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, and the ship was returning fully loaded to Venezuela following the U.S. blockade of Venezuelan oil exports, the industry source said.

The United States imposed sanctions on the tanker in January last year, when it was named Minerva M, because Washington said it was part of the so-called ghost fleet of ships that sail with little known regulation or assurance.

Trump cancels 2nd wave of attacks

The latest announcement comes as US President Donald Trump said he had called off a second wave of attacks on Venezuela thanks to the South American nation’s cooperation.

Trump said Friday that Venezuela was releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a “search for peace,” following last week’s dramatic U.S. military operation that resulted in Maduro’s capture.

“This is a very important and smart move. The United States and Venezuela are working well together, particularly in rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure,” Trump said on Truth Social.

“Due to this cooperation, I have canceled the previously expected second wave of attacks, which does not appear to be necessary, however, all ships will remain in place for safety and security reasons,” his message added.

WATCH | Families speak of their hopes for the release of political prisoners:

What’s next for Venezuela’s political prisoners?

The US capture of Nicolas Maduro has given hope to hundreds of political dissidents lost in Venezuela’s notorious prisons. For The National, CBC’s Evan Dyer speaks with Venezuelans now living in Canada who say they want to see the Trump administration do more to free their family and friends.

Trump’s comments come hours after he indicated as much in an interview on Fox News. Hannite program under which Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado would visit Washington next week, after rejecting the idea of ​​working with her, saying “she has neither the support nor respect inside the country.”

The Republican president, however, told the New York Times on Wednesday that the United States “got along very well” with the Venezuelan government, led by interim President Delcy Rodriguez.

During the Fox News interview, Trump also said he would meet with oil executives at the White House on Friday and that oil companies would spend at least US$100 billion in Venezuela, which he repeated in his Truth Social article.