In a dramatic turn of events, a month-long pursuit across the Indian Ocean has culminated in the capture of an oil tanker by U.S. forces. This vessel, known as the Aquila II, had been attempting to evade quarantine in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse.

The Aquila II marks the eighth tanker apprehended by the United States since the Trump administration launched an aggressive campaign against illegal oil shipments in the Caribbean. This initiative aims to sever Venezuela’s primary revenue stream.

Early in January, the Aquila II was among several ships that tried to escape the region. This occurred shortly after the capture of Nicolás Maduro, the then-president of Venezuela, by U.S. forces.

In a statement on X, Hegseth delivered a stern warning to future tankers and their operators: “It ran, and we followed,” he declared. “By land, air, or sea, our Armed Forces will find you and deliver justice. You will run out of fuel long before you will outrun us.”

The U.S. sanctioned the vessel on January 10, citing that it was transporting Russian oil. Prior to this, the Aquila II had already been sanctioned by the United Kingdom due to its connections with Russia.

A video released by the Department of War captures the moment U.S. troops approached the ship with precision, swiftly boarding the deck to take control of the vessel.

‘When the Department of War says quarantine, we mean it. Nothing will stop DOW from defending our Homeland — even in oceans halfway around the world,’ the post on X read.

The Aquila II reportedly loaded nearly 1 million barrels of crude oil at Venezuela’s Jose terminal on Dec. 6. 

A month–long pursuit in Venezuela stretching all the way around the Indian Ocean, resulted in U.S. forces capturing on oil tanker that attempted flee quarantine

In a Department of War post, a video attached shows U.S. troops moving swiftly towards the ship, propelling onto the deck

The US seizure of the tanker Aquila II marks the eighth vessel intercepted by American forces since the Trump administration imposed a ‘complete blockade’ on sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers in December.

US Southern Command confirmed the operation on social media, stating the vessel was apprehended ‘without incident’ while ‘operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean.’

SOUTHCOM did not confirm whether the U.S. Coast Guard led the boarding party, as it has in previous operations.

Video posted on X showed troops rappelling from a helicopter onto a tanker deck during a pre-dawn Caribbean seizure. Marines and sailors captured the vessel without resistance, the military command responsible for Central and South America said.

‘The only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully,’ SOUTHCOM said.

President Trump imposed the blockade on December 16. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it one of the largest ‘quarantines’ in modern history, adding Sunday that it is successfully ‘paralysing’ the regime’s ability to generate revenue.

The tanker, the Aquila II, is the eight ship captured by the U.S. since the Trump administration first started their crusade against illegal oil shipments in the Caribbean –– hoping to cut off Venezuela’s main profits

The tanker Bertha, one of several that appear to have attempted to evade the US naval blockade of Venezuela

Before the Aquila II, the takeover of the Motor Vessel Sagitta marked the seventh vessel to be intercepted by American forces as the Trump administration tightens its grip on South American oil exports

Following the capture of Maduro by US Special Forces, Secretary of State Marco Rubio clarified that while the US does not intend to govern Venezuela, the Trump administration will maintain its ‘oil quarantine’ on all vessels entering or exiting the country. 

A fleet on Iranian tankers was also apprehended –– as reported exclusively by the Daily Mail.

Despite a long history of brazenly transporting sanctioned Iranian oil, the Iranian ‘shadow fleet’ of Iranian–linked vessels have been seen sailing just miles from the American coastline as President Trump continues his unrelenting bombardment of alleged drug boats.

A bombshell report obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail exposes a deep, clandestine network of 20 illicit tankers currently lurking in Caribbean waters, serving as a lifeline for the regimes of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, Iran and Russia.