US intercepts third tanker in a week as it tightens control over Venezuelan oil

Group 1: US Military Actions - The US military has seized a third oil tanker, the Olina, in a week, with US Marines and navy sailors boarding the vessel in the Caribbean Sea [1] - The Olina is the fifth tanker seized by US forces since last month, indicating a focused effort to control oil output from Venezuela [2][8] - The US Southern Command emphasized that there is "no safe haven for criminals" in relation to these seizures [1] Group 2: Political and Economic Context - The seizures coincide with the recent deposition of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, as the US aims to tighten control over Venezuela's oil resources [2] - President Trump is actively engaging with oil executives, indicating a strategy to extract "billions and billions" of dollars worth of oil from Venezuela [2] - The US is leveraging Venezuela's oil industry to achieve political and economic objectives, including enhancing the influence of US companies and sending a message to adversaries like China [9] Group 3: Legal and Regulatory Aspects - The Olina was previously sanctioned for transporting Russian oil under the name Minerva M and is flagged in Panama, but is now listed under a false flag [3] - The ownership of the Olina was transferred to a Hong Kong company in July, raising questions about its operational legitimacy [3]