Colombian Navy seized an unmanned narco-submarine in the Caribbean. Photo: AFP.
The Colombian Navy announced its first seizure of an unmanned, remotely controlled narco-submarine in the Caribbean Sea, equipped with a Starlink antenna and with the capacity to transport 1.5 tons of cocaine.
According to information released on Wednesday, July 2, the vessel seized near the city of Santa Marta was presumably owned by Clan del Golfo, the largest drug trafficking group in the country.
The Colombian Navy highlighted that it is an autonomous, remotely controlled vessel with high technology that could prevent it from being located and detected by radar.
Colombian media reported that the submarine contained sophisticated technical systems, including two surveillance cameras, two antennas (one external and the other on the upper deck protected with fiberglass), a Starlink modem for satellite communication, and two surveillance cameras (one on the outside, in the front to monitor the trajectory and the other one inside, to check the status of the engine).
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These lightweight vessels travel at the surface of the water, traveling longer distances than speedboats, and are difficult for authorities to track.
During the operation, the Colombian Navy personnel did not find any drugs inside. However, it is presumed that the drug traffickers were carrying out tests before using such vessels. The Clan del Golfo, a group with paramilitary origins, does business with the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels of Mexico.
Colombian law punishes the use, construction, commercialization, possession, and transport of semi-submersibles with prison sentences of up to 14 years.
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/SC/DZ
