U.S. military forces have successfully boarded the oil tanker Aquila II in the Indian Ocean after an extended multi‑ocean pursuit from the Caribbean, the Pentagon confirmed on February 9, 2026. Defense officials say the nighttime operation was executed “without incident” and was carried out as part of ongoing efforts to enforce the United States’ maritime quarantine on sanctioned vessels connected to illicit crude oil shipments. 

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. forces tracked the vessel from the Caribbean Sea into the Indian Ocean before conducting a right‑of‑visit and boarding under the authority of Indo‑Pacific Command. The Aquila II was accused of operating in defiance of President Donald Trump’s established quarantine on sanctioned tankers traveling to or from Venezuela. 

Aquila II is a Suezmax‑class tanker that departed Venezuelan waters earlier in January carrying a large cargo of heavy crude oil, with shipping and tracking data indicating a planned voyage toward Asia. The vessel had been sanctioned by Washington for its involvement in transporting restricted cargo, and U.S. authorities have previously seized a number of similar vessels under anti‑sanctions enforcement efforts.

Video of the operation shared by U.S. military sources shows troops fast‑roping from helicopters onto the tanker’s deck, securing the ship and its crew without resistance. The intercept underscores an expanded U.S. naval role in enforcing sanctions and maritime interdiction far from American shores, reflecting a broader strategy to disrupt sanctioned oil flows tied to Venezuela and global “shadow fleet” activities. 

Officials have not yet disclosed specific details about the tanker’s cargo at the time of boarding or the next steps for the vessel and its crew. The operation comes amid a heightened U.S. commitment to sanctions enforcement and maritime security, underscoring Washington’s willingness to project naval power across theaters in support of economic and strategic objectives.