The US has confiscated a tanker allegedly carrying Russian and Venezuelan oil, violating imposed sanctions as part of a global crackdown on shadow vessels.
The Pentagon announced the recent confiscation of a tanker named 'Aquila II' that was attempting to escape from the Caribbean Sea to the Indian Ocean after violating U.S. sanctions. This tanker was reportedly transporting oil from Russia and Venezuela, with sanctions imposed on it by multiple jurisdictions including the US, EU, UK, Switzerland, Canada, and Ukraine. The Department of Defense has actively tracked this vessel, indicating a sustained commitment to enforcing sanctions against entities supporting Russian oil exports.
The U.S. Treasury Department had previously sanctioned the ship's owner, the company 'Sunne', in January 2025, due to its involvement in the Russian energy sector. This action is part of a broader effort by the U.S. to counteract what it terms 'shadow vessels,' which are ships that attempt to evade sanctions to facilitate the export of oil which can benefit Russia amid ongoing geopolitical conflicts. The confiscation of the 'Aquila II' marks a continuation of this campaign, emphasizing the U.S. determination to hold accountable those circumventing sanctions.
On January 21, the U.S. authorities had also seized another tanker, the 'Sagitta', representing the seventh vessel taken under these enforcement measures since December 2025. Such actions illustrate the aggressive stance the U.S. is taking in maritime operations aimed at curtailing illicit oil transport and supporting global sanctions aimed at crippling the Russian economy during times of conflict.
