US forces board sanctioned tanker Aquila II in Indian Ocean after long pursuit

US forces have boarded the tanker Aquila II in the Indian Ocean in an overnight operation coordinated by US Indo-Pacific Command, following a pursuit that gCaptain says began in the Caribbean and covered some 10,000 miles. According to the report, the vessel, which has also operated as Cape Balder, was designated by the US Treasury in January 2025 as blocked property linked to Russia's energy sector and is owned by sanctioned company Sunne Co Limited. US authorities accused it of moving oil priced above the G7's $60-per-barrel cap. The operation formed part of Washington's campaign against tankers leaving the Caribbean.

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