U.S. Boards Sanctioned Oil Tanker in Indian Ocean

U.S. military forces intercepted and boarded a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after pursuing the vessel for weeks from the Caribbean Sea, officials announced Monday. The operation targeted the Aquila II, a Panamanian-flagged ship accused of defying a U.S. quarantine on vessels linked to illicit oil shipments, and concluded without incident in the Indo-Pacific Command's area of responsibility.

The Department of Defense described the action as a right-of-visit and maritime interdiction, emphasizing the ship's evasion of enforcement measures. Tracked across more than 10,000 nautical miles, the Aquila II departed waters near Venezuela earlier this year and was followed through multiple ocean basins before the boarding. Officials stated that the vessel, which had its transponder off for much of the past year to conceal its movements, was operating in violation of U.S. sanctions imposed by the Treasury Department in January.

The tanker belongs to Sunne Co Limited, a Hong Kong-based company designated for its role in Russia's energy sector under Executive Order 14024. U.S. authorities have accused such entities of using deceptive practices, including name changes and flag...