Ocelot used the help of Sergei Gurlukovich and the Gurlukovich Mercenaries to infiltrate the tanker in which RAY was being transported and steal it (or "taking it back," in his words). He also anticipated Solid Snake's arrival at the tanker, due to his other mission being to ensure Snake and Philanthropy were framed by the Patriots as revenge for the fame they gained during Shadow Moses. He was supposed to stay away from the action, but he disobeyed orders, and when a Gurlukovich soldier who evaded Snake's assault on a unit of soldiers near the boiler room holds discovered his presence and questioned him of it, he shot the hapless soldier dead and departed, although not before telling the then-recently deceased soldier that his commander will "join [thesoldier] soon." He then managed to successfully steal RAY, sinking the tanker in the process. He also betrayed Sergei and left both him and Marine Commandant Scott Dolph for dead.

It was here when Liquid's personality first took over Ocelot and made his presence known to Snake. After hijacking RAY, Liquid proceeded to destroy the Discovery, along with the U.S. Marines on board, before making his escape. Some short time after this, Ocelot regained control of his body. The Patriots then continued with their plan (unaware that Ocelot still intended on betraying them), sinking a real oil tanker at the same spot, and constructing the Big Shell. In addition, when reporting to the Patriots (namely someone identified as the President) about the success of his mission, he also promises