Colombia captures its first narco-submarine of the year carrying almost 800 kilos of cocaine
ABC News
A spokesman for Colombia’s navy said the South American country has intercepted its first narco-submarine of the year, as drug traffickers in the country produce record amounts of cocaine destined for Europe and the United States
BOGOTA, Colombia -- Colombia has intercepted its first narco-submarine of the year, the navy said Monday, as drug traffickers in the South American country produce record amounts of cocaine destined for Europe and the United States.
The submersible was intercepted on Saturday morning off Colombia’s Pacific Coast, navy spokesman Capt. Wilmer Roa said. The 15 meter-long, homemade craft was carrying almost 800 kilograms of cocaine in small packages the size of bricks. The packets were were stamped with images of scorpions and Mexican flags.
“In reality, this was a small" seizure, Roa said. “We’ve caught submarines with almost 3,500 kilos” of the drug.
Roa said that last year Colombia’s navy captured 10 narco-submarines.
Colombia’s government has struggled to limit cocaine production in recent years, as rebel groups and drug trafficking gangs take over territory that was abandoned by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia guerrillas following the group's 2016 peace deal with the government.
