US Hunts Down Sanctioned Tanker at Sea ⚔️

SHIPPING NEWS

US Military Hunts Down Sanctioned Oil Tanker in the Indian Ocean

In a dramatic maritime operation that highlights the growing intersection of geopolitics and global energy trade, US military forces tracked, pursued and ultimately captured a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean this week.

The vessel, the Aquila II, had been linked to Venezuela’s so-called “shadow fleet” — a network of tankers moving crude oil under false flags, altered ownership structures, or with tracking systems switched off to evade sanctions. After loading heavy crude earlier this year, the tanker reportedly went dark and attempted to slip through global shipping lanes undetected, with indications its cargo was destined for Asia.

According to the US Department of Defense, the ship was first identified in the Caribbean before fleeing across open waters. US naval assets maintained surveillance for weeks in what officials described as a rare long-range pursuit, eventually intercepting the tanker near the Indian Ocean. Boarding teams seized control of the vessel without resistance, bringing an end to one of the most high-profile maritime enforcement actions in recent years. The operation forms part of a broader effort to tighten enforcement against sanctioned oil flows that continue to move quietly through global trade routes.

Defense officials said the operation shows how far authorities are now willing to go to enforce oil sanctions, even tracking vessels across entire oceans. Another sign that shadow fleets are under growing pressure, with higher risks for owners, insurers, and ports linked to sanctioned cargo. What used to be handled through paperwork and penalties is increasingly being enforced directly at sea. Watch Clip

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