Submarine Loaded with Cocaine Busted
Colombian drug dealers nabbed in under water scheme
By EDWARD J. CARR
Updated 1:27 PM EDT, Mon, Nov 2, 2009
Colombian drug dealers sick of getting busted by law enforcement have come up with numerous ways to transport their contraband to foreign shores. They used automobiles with secret compartments, human drug "mules," high-speed aircraft and boats. Now, they're trying their luck with submarines.
One of these special drug subs was caught 175 miles off the coast of Guatemala carrying more than 10 tons of cocaine, the BBC reports. This is the largest drug booty Guatemalan officials have ever seized.
After Colombian authorities tipped off the DEA and Guatemalan law enforcement, ships were ordered to intercept. Their mission then became "The Hunt For White October."
Three Colombians and one Mexican national on board were arrested.
U.S. officials estimate these drug submarines carry one-third of all cocaine traveling from South America to the U.S. The subs are usually made of steel, fiberglass and wood to make them harder to detect by radar.
First Published: Oct 23, 2009 1:53 PM EDT
You Might Like
You have 2000 characters left
