New Delhi, Jan. 9 -- The United States has seized the oil tanker Olina in the Caribbean, marking the fifth such action in recent weeks as Washington intensifies its crackdown on Venezuelan oil shipments, according to two US officials.

Shipping records show the Olina was falsely registered under the flag of Timor-Leste. The vessel had earlier departed from Venezuela and later returned to the region, according to news agency Reuters.

"The vessel's AIS (location) 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 in the region."(This is a develop...