Narco Subs Spotted in Pacific Raise โAlarms Over Increased Drug Trafficking to Australia
Sydney, Australia – Australian authorities are on high alert following confirmed sightings ofโ several narco submarines – purpose-built, semi-submersible vessels – operating in the โPacific Ocean, raising fears of a significant escalation in drug trafficking attempts targeting Australia.The advancement comes amid growingโข warnings that Mexican and South Americanโข cartels are โคactively expanding their reach into the region, โseeking new markets and routes to circumvent conventional law enforcement โฃefforts.
The increased activity represents a substantial shift in tactics, โฃmoving beyond traditional methods like air drops and containerโฃ shipments. Experts โฃwarn that narcoโข subs, capable of carrying โขtonnes of cocaine โand operating largely undetected, โpose a significant challenge to border security. “These vessels are incrediblyโค difficult to detect,” explained a source within the Australian Federalโค Police (AFP) who spoke โon the condition โof anonymity. “They travel just below the surface,โข minimizing radarโฃ signatures, and areโข often constructed from readily available materials, making them hard to distinguish from legitimate fishing vessels.”
The recent detections, confirmed by both the AFP and the Australian Border Force (ABF), have prompted a reassessment of maritime surveillance strategiesโ and increased collaboration with international partners, including the โคUnited States Drug โEnforcement Administration (DEA) and regional Pacificโฃ Islandโข nations. While authorities are remaining tight-lipped โabout the exact locations of โขthe sightings, sources indicate the vessels were tracked moving along established maritime routes towards โAustralia’s โคeastern and northern coastlines.
The threat isn’t new. Authorities have been aware ofโฃ the โpotential for narco sub โuseโ for years, butโ the confirmed sightings represent the closest such โคvessels have come to Australian shores.In 2019, a partially โขconstructed narco sub wasโ discovered in โขa remoteโ jungleโข area of Colombia, believed to be destined for delivery to a โฃcartel operating in the Pacific.
“I thought it was cool, I thought it was cool getting locked up,” said Nagi,โข a former member ofโ a Middle Eastern crime gang who spoke to ABC Newsโ about his experiences. “you canโ be a quiet kid and two โคyears later you’ve โฃbecome โขa monster.” His โฃstoryโ underscores theโ broader criminal networksโ that could โคpossibly utilize these advancedโ trafficking โคmethods.
theโ potential influx of drugs โcarried by these โฃvessels could have devastating consequences for australia, exacerbating existing issues with drug-related crime, addiction, and associated health problems. Authorities estimateโข the Australian illegal โฃdrugโ market is worth โbillions โคof dollars annually, and the cartels are increasinglyโฃ motivated byโข the high profits to be made.
The AFP and ABF are urgingโ the public to report any suspicious maritime activity. Anyone with data is encouraged to contact โฃ7.30 here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/programs/730/about-contact.
