This is the third semi-submarine found in less than three weeks, reportedly hitting the finances of transnational drug trafficking organizations by more than $205 million, in this period.
In 2023, the Colombian Navy has prevented 13 illegal semi-submarine-type devices from reaching their destination ports, thanks to permanent maritime, river and coastal operations.
The Colombian Navy, as part of a comprehensive sea control and maritime security operation, framed in the Joint Strategic Campaign Plan Ayacucho, intercepted a 17-meter-long semi-submarine, when it was sailing in the waters of the Colombian South Pacific bound for Central America.
The illegal blue-colored device, crewed by three men of Colombian nationality, was detected by the Colombian Navy units conducted in the Pacific Ocean, which quickly and decisively carried out the maritime interception of the ship.
The individuals who were on board, noticing the existence of the Colombian Sailors, tried to open valves and sink the semi-submarine with the cargo, without any success, since the military personnel prevented it and safeguarded the lives of the three men, recovering the boat and the cargo.
Later, when carrying out the inspection of the semi-submarine, the military personnel found 125 black sacks inside, which were taken on board a Navy ship that was in the area.
The individuals, the semi-submarine and the material were taken to the dock of the Primary Coast Guard Station in the district of Tumaco - Nariño, where the personnel of the Technical Research Corps - CTI (Technical Investigations Corps) proceeded to conduct the Approved Preliminary Identification Test – PIPH to the illegal merchandise, confirming positive result for 2,410 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride.
The men were brought before the Attorney General's Office, pursuant to the provisions of Law 1311 of 2009, which defines as an alleged crime the use, construction, marketing, possession and transport of semi-submarines or submarines with penalties ranging 6 and 14 years.
In the same way, the illegal device, together with the illegal merchandise, were put into custody of the authorities.
With this decisive blow, the Naval Institution prevented more than 81 million dollars from entering the finances of organizations serving drug trafficking, and the marketing of more than six million doses.
Source: Press - Navy of Colombia
