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 Technology News | April 2008 
Submarine: Latest Tool of Drug Runners
 Prensa Latina -
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Colombian drug runners are using sophisticated submarine-like boats as the latest tool to take cocaine north from Colombia to Mexico, US Army South Command officials say, according to information from Mexican newspaper Milenio.
The newspaper disclosed declarations of Admiral James Stravidis, Head of this Command, who indicated the use of those semi-submersible boats for such purpose is an increasing tendency and he described those who do it as very creative people and these semi-submersible boats used to smuggle drugs are gaining in quality.
He pointed out that the so-called Norte del Valle Cartel, or North Valley Cartel, (a drug cartel which operates principally in the north of the Valle del Cauca department of Colombia, known as one of the most powerful organizations in the illegal drugs trade) established a true factory of a type of small submarines in the Colombian forest from where they are sent by waterway to the Pacific, destined to Mexico.
They tend to be one of a kind. They cost up to two million dollars to produce by unity, are constructed with glass fiber, wood or metal, they are able to sail five meters depth and that makes them undetectable from the surface but for its periscope.
Although the vessels were once viewed as a quirky sideshow in the drug war, they are becoming faster, more seaworthy, and capable of carrying bigger loads of drugs than earlier models, according to those charged with catching them.
The information, according to reports from South Command, added dozens of them have been captured, which allows the possibility to take on board up to four crew members and 10 tons of cocaine, sailing at a speed that has increased to 6 knots, which is a pretty good speed on the ocean.
They use an adapted Diesel engine and it makes they sound differently, as to confuse the sound with dolphins or whales, evading thus marine controls.
Sometimes they are put together in pieces and then reassembled in other locations. They are very difficult to locate. The boats are built in the Colombian jungle. |
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