Drug Subs

[TheMercenary]

Navy Discovers 17 Submarines Since 2005, Each Worth up to Two Million Dollars — Vice Admiral Edgar Cely said that specialized personnel and knowledge are needed to design and build the craft. Cely indicated that the clandestine shipyards are definitely the property of the northern Valle del Cauca cartel, which runs them through criminal gangs and the 29th and 30th Fronts of the FARC [Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia] and through an alliance with the cartels of Mexico. According to Cely, the use of technology dates back to at least 1993, including camouflage paint applied to fishing boats, copying the technology to build go-fast speedboats, and now submarines. “We have found some craft that barely float, others that were very slow to navigate, and some that had to be rowed.” The admiral indicated that master builders in fiberglass are needed, and they are paid with the cartel’s drug money. He also pointed out that the Pacific is preferred because the waters are calm most of the year up to the coasts of Central America.

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From The Economist of 3 May 2008:

Light planes and commercial flights gave way to shipping containers. Where once cocaine was hidden in shipments of fresh vegetables and flowers, more recently it has been found in specialty moulded furniture and concrete fencing posts.

... traffickers have perfected the design and manufacturer of semi-submersible craft (although they look like submarines, then don't fully submerge). In 2006, American officials say they detected only three; now they are spotting an average of ten a month.