Portuguese Navy Intercepts Narco-Submarine Carrying 6.5 Tons of Cocaine
Lisbon, Portugal – A narco-submarine was recently intercepted by the Portuguese Navy while attempting to transport 6.5 tons of cocaine across the Atlantic Ocean from Brazil. Three Brazilian nationals and one Spanish citizen were arrested in connection with the seizure.The incident underscores the escalating use of submersible vessels by drug trafficking organizations to smuggle narcotics into europe.
For decades, drug cartels have innovated methods to evade detection, and the use of narco-submarines-often crudely constructed but effective-represents a significant challenge for law enforcement. These vessels offer a lower-investment, higher-reward proposition for traffickers, making interdiction increasingly critical. Authorities are now racing to develop advanced technologies to counter this evolving threat, as the flow of cocaine into Europe continues to rise.
The practice of utilizing narco-submarines originated in Colombia during the 1990s, spearheaded by former military personnel and engineers from the former Soviet Union. Pablo Escobar, the notorious Colombian drug lord, reportedly possessed two such submarines within his fleet, openly acknowledging their existence.
“We are seeing a lot of narco-submarine activity because it is the most profitable system for organizations. The investment is smaller and the chances of the drugs reaching their destination are greater, so the fight is constant,” stated Emilio Rodríguez Ramos, head of the organized crime response unit of the Spanish National Police in Pontevedra, in remarks to the newspaper El País.
Ramos emphasized the need for enhanced technological capabilities to intercept communications vital to the operation of these submarines. The recent interception highlights the ongoing struggle to disrupt the transatlantic drug trade and the increasing sophistication of the methods employed by criminal networks.
