Drug Submarine

A Drug Submarine is a semi-submersible vessel that is used to carry illegal drug shipments. In 2007, a submarine was intercepted by U.S. border patrol agents off the coast of Guatemala carrying over $350 million in cocaine bound for the United States. The four man crew attempted to sink the sub when approached by a U.S. Navy ship. In July 2008, a second drug submarine was seized off the Pacific coast by the Mexican navy.

Fast Facts

1. Guatemalan submarine was 50 feet long
2. Guatemalan sub carried 11 bales of cocaine weighing 1,210 lbs
3. The Mexican seized submarine was 33 feet long
4. Colombian authorities have also captured more than a dozen submarines over the last two years¹
5. Drug submarines cost about $1 million to make and some are capable of carrying over ten tons of cocaine²

Mexico Drug Submarine

On July 17, 2008, news organizations reported that Mexico's navy seized a small, homemade submarine about 200 miles off the southern state of Oaxaca. The submarine, which had a green top and was shaped like an arrowhead, had a four man crew. The submarine was allegedly carrying a drug shipment and the suspects were from Buenaventura, a coastal town in Colombia.³

U.S. Helped Submarine Capture

On July 18, 2008, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said that United States intelligence led the Mexican Navy to the whereabouts of the homemade drug submarine that was announced captured the day before by Mexican officials. The submarine was carrying 5.8 tons of cocaine.⁴

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