Colombia intercepts largest drug-smuggling submarine in 30 years

The Colombian navy has intercepted a homemade drug-smuggling submarine that is the largest in three decades, measuring about 30 metres long.

The homemade submarine was intercepted at sea on May 9 as it headed to Central America, one of the most popular routes for smuggling drugs to the United States. The crew included three Colombians, who were suspected of being forced by drug gangs to operate the vessel, the Colombian navy said on May 12.

The vessel, about 30 meters long and three meters wide, is the largest of the homemade drug-smuggling submarines that Colombia has intercepted since 1993. The Colombian Navy said the seizure cost the drug ring about $103 million.

Colombian soldiers on a homemade submarine captured on May 9. Photo: AFP

The Colombian Navy has intercepted a total of 228 homemade drug submarines over three decades. These vessels travel semi-submersible to avoid detection by law enforcement and coast guard. Some were intercepted en route to the United States, others were intercepted in the Atlantic Ocean en route to Europe.

Colombian law makes the manufacture, use, marketing, possession or transport of homemade submarines punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

According to a 2021 United Nations report, the area of coca plants used to extract cocaine in Colombia is more than 200,000 hectares. The report also said that the amount of cocaine processed in Colombia in 2021 was 1,400 tons, an increase of nearly 300 tons compared to 2020.

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP )

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