United States authorities are struggling to keep up with “the most ingenious innovation in the drug trade”: narcotics submarines.
Drug cartels have improved their techniques and technology from easily detectable “go fast” boats intended to simply outrun drug corps, to semi-submersible craft with conspicuous snorkels—and now to fully submersible vessels. The most advanced of these subs can haul 10 tons of cocaine at a time and for over 3,000 miles without surfacing for air. That’s the distance from Colombia to California. Although interdictions have captured 129 tons of U.S.-bound cocaine, 500 tons are estimated by the Coast Guard to be making it to the American cocaine market, notes the Atlantic Wire.
