U.S. and Indian Maritime Operations Target Oil Smuggling Amid Regional Security Threats in Indo-Pacific and Central Command Areas

INDO-PACIFIC / CENTRAL COMMAND - U.S. military forces boarded the Panamanian-flagged tanker Aquila II on February 8 in the Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean Sea. This operation enforced sanctions against vessels linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.

Separately, the Indian Coast Guard intercepted three vessels, Al Jafzia, Asphalt Star, and Stellar Ruby, on February 6, 2026 about 100 nautical miles west of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea, disrupting an international oil smuggling syndicate tied to Iran.

The incidents involve different vessels, locations, and enforcing authorities, with no verified connections between them. Both actions highlight efforts to curb illicit maritime oil transfers amid global sanctions.

These operations occur against a backdrop of persistent regional threats, including piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Iranian boardings in the Strait of Hormuz, as outlined in U.S. maritime advisories.

Vessel Details

The Aquila II is a crude oil tanker built in 2004, with a length of 274 meters and a beam of 48 meters. It has a gross tonnage of 80,620 tons and a dead-weight tonnage of 159,073 tons.

The vessel flies the Panamanian flag, with International Maritime Organization number 9281152 and Maritime Mobile Service Identity 352001694. Beneficial ownership traces to Sunne Co Limited, a Hong Kong entity sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on January 10, 2025, under Executive Order 14024 for supporting Russia’s energy sector.

Sunne Co Limited owns additional shadow fleet vessels, including Amber 6 (IMO 9235713), Apus (IMO 9280885), Emily S (IMO 9321847), Heidi A (IMO 9321976), Lauren II (IMO 9258521), M Sophia (IMO 9289477), Minerva M (IMO 9282479), Sagitta (IMO 9296822), and Tasca (IMO 9313149).

Commercial management is handled by Occee Co Limited, also based in Hong Kong. The Aquila II has conducted high-risk activities, such as ship-to-ship transfers in the Kerch Strait, to export Russian oil above the G7 price cap.

It left Venezuelan waters on January 3, 2026, among sanctioned tankers using evasion tactics like dual signal transmission and Automatic Identification System spoofing.

Its last position before interdiction was in the Baltic Sea, per commercial Automatic Identification System data 99 days prior. Sanctions apply from the European Union, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Canada, and Ukraine.

The Indian operation involved Al Jafzia (IMO 9171498, Nicaraguan flag), Asphalt Star (IMO 9463528, Malian flag), and Stellar Ruby (IMO 9555199, Iranian flag).

All three are U.S.-sanctioned and linked to Iranian smuggling networks. Al Jafzia and Asphalt Star previously used false flags from Guyana and Aruba.

Operational Assessment

The U.S. boarding used an MH-60S helicopter from the USS George Washington, supported by the expeditionary sea base USS Miguel Keith (ESB-3). An Arleigh Burke-class destroyer escorted the tanker.

Crew in orange jumpsuits gathered on deck under watch, with U.S. forces providing sniper over-watch. The vessel continued under escort after boarding.

This is the seventh seizure under Operation Southern Spear since late 2025, focusing on sanctions-evading networks. No resistance reported, consistent with prior actions. No other nations tracked the Aquila II during transit.

​The Indian Coast Guard employed sea-air coordination, intercepting vessels after surveillance detected suspicious activity in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Boarding teams conducted searches, data analysis, and crew interrogations, confirming mid-sea transfers of oil from conflict zones to evade duties.