US forces board runaway tanker
Aquila II was one of the tankers that broke free of the US-imposed blockade on Venezuela
Tanker tracked from the Caribbean Sea to the Indian Ocean by US forces before it was boarded overnight
A TANKER that fled the US blockade of Venezuela was boarded by US forces overnight, the Department of War confirmed in an announcement.
Suezmax Aquila II (IMO: 9281152), formerly Panama-flagged and sanctioned by the UK and US, was one of several tankers that broke through the blockade and departed Venezuela following US intervention in January 2026.
The tanker is owned by Hong Kong-based Linnet Marguerite.
When the @DeptofWar says quarantine, we mean it. Nothing will stop DoW from defending our Homeland — even in oceans halfway around the world.
— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) February 9, 2026
Overnight, U.S. military forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding on the Aquila II without incident in the… pic.twitter.com/kYVAQC5io9
The Department of War said US forces boarded Aquila II, which is effectively stateless flying an unknown flag, overnight between February 8 and February 9 after tracking it from the Caribbean Sea to the Indian Ocean.
“Nothing will stop DoW from defending our Homeland — even in oceans halfway around the world,” the department said.
“Aquila II was operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean.
“It ran, and we followed.
“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,” a statement issued via social media platform X read.
