During a recent operation, the Colombian navy discovered a ghost submarine in the Pacific Ocean containing a large quantity of cocaine worth $87.7 million. Two dead bodies were found onboard, and two survivors were also discovered in poor health conditions and required medical assistance. Colombia’s Ministry of National Defense released a statement regarding the discovery.
According to an official statement, the two men found in poor health conditions on the outside of the recently seized ghost submarine had suffered from toxic gases generated from the fuel. They were immediately given medical attention and transported to a nearby vessel before being presented to the Technical Investigation Corps of the Attorney General’s Office in Tumaco along with the bodies and the cocaine. The Colombian government praised the navy’s efforts and estimated that the operation kept over 6 million doses of drugs from entering the illegal market.
A video was released by officials showing officers boarding a partially submerged vessel and discovering dozens of bricks of cocaine. The seized submarine was reportedly one of three that belonged to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a Marxist guerrilla group that was involved in drug trafficking, kidnappings, and other criminal activities to fund their work. FARC was known for developing narco-submarines, which, like the one seized on Sunday, could travel partially submerged to evade detection by radar and surveillance equipment.
What is a Ghost Submarine / Narco Submarine?
A “ghost submarine” / “narco submarine” is a term used to describe a type of drug smuggling vessel that is built to be difficult to detect by law enforcement agencies. These submarines are usually homemade and are made of fiberglass or other materials that make them difficult to detect by radar or other detection methods. They are called “ghost” submarines because they are hard to see and can slip through the ocean unnoticed.
Did Pablo Escobar own submarine?
It was reported that Pablo Escobar, the infamous drug kingpin from Colombia, owned a remote-controlled submarine that was 11 meters long, which he allegedly bought from the Colombian military. The submarine was later found in a jungle river.
Before Escobar was gunned down in a final firefight, Pablo Escobar was known for his inventive tactics as a drug lord. He expanded his operation by acquiring vehicles, planes, and even two submarines with the money he made. However, one of the submarines he owned sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.
