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Colombian Navy Continues Fight Against Narcotrafficking with Seizure of ‘Narco Sub’ [Video]
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!
- A submarine carrying nearly three tons of cocaine was seized off the coast of Colombia.
- Two dead bodies were found on board, along with two survivors in poor health.
- The seizure prevented more than 6 million doses of cocaine from reaching the illegal market.
A submarine carrying almost 5,800 pounds of cocaine, worth more than $87 million, was seized in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Colombia, the country’s navy announced on Sunday. The roughly 50-foot-long submarine was also carrying two dead bodies and two survivors “in poor health,” who were given first aid.
According to Captain Cristian Andres Guzman Echeverry, the survivors’ poor health state was presumably due to the inhalation of toxic fumes caused by fuel problems inside the boat.
The submarine was reportedly bound for countries in Central America, but the seizure by the Colombian navy kept more than 6 million doses of cocaine off the illegal market. The rescued men, the two victims, and the seized drugs were brought to Tumaco, where they were presented to the Technical Investigation Corps of the Attorney General’s Office.
En el #PacÃficoColombiano, se logró la interdicción de un semisumergible que transportaba 2643 kg de clorhidrato de cocaÃna, lo que equivale a más de 6 millones de dosis que tendrÃan como destino Centroamérica.#ContundenciaOperacional#PlanAyacucho
👉 https://t.co/uaqjmX9lhS pic.twitter.com/yy31V0IA9A— Armada de Colombia (@ArmadaColombia) March 12, 2023
Officials posted images of the submarine’s seizure, showing officers hauling packages off the ship. One video appeared to show officers carrying a victim on a stretcher on a pier toward an ambulance.
So-called “narco subs” are commonly used by traffickers in the region to transport drugs. Last year, the Colombian navy seized a semi-submersible vessel carrying 4 tons of cocaine worth about $150 million.
The submarines sometimes make it all the way to North America. In 2019, a submarine carrying 12,000 pounds of cocaine worth more than $165 million was seized by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Colombian navy vowed to continue using all its capabilities to stop the scourge of narcotrafficking. The use of “narco subs” has become increasingly common in recent years, as traffickers seek to evade detection by authorities.
The submarine seized on Sunday marks yet another blow to drug traffickers in the region, and a victory for law enforcement officials working to combat the illegal drug trade.
Source: news.yahoo.com
