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Police Seize Secret Sub Capable of Carrying 10 Tons of Cocaine
Ecuadorean security forces stand on a submarine being built clandestinely by suspected drug traffickers in mangrove swamps near San Lorenzo. (AP)
Associated Press
July 06, 2010
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA – Police in Ecuador seized a 100-foot submarine being built by suspected drug traffickers capable of carrying a crew of six and 10 tons of cocaine on underwater voyages lasting up to 10 days — a “game changer” for U.S. anti-drug and border security efforts, officials said Monday.
A raid Friday by 120 police officers and soldiers netted the fiberglass sub as it was nearing completion in a clandestine “industrial complex” hidden in mangrove swamps near San Lorenzo, a town just south of the Colombian border.
The craft was outfitted with a conning tower, a periscope, air conditioning and “scrubbers” to purify the air, and bunks for a maximum crew of six. But what set the craft apart from semi-submersible craft that drug traffickers have used for years was a complex ballast system that would have enabled it to dive as deep as 65 feet before surfacing.
Ahi
almost 3 years ago
1990 Comments
Good catch!
Anonymous
almost 3 years ago
What a big catch ~ Outstanding job for our LEO brothers down South America! ~ What a big fish!
clayton1966
almost 3 years ago
32 Comments
Damn Why Couldnt catch someting like that when I go Fishing Great Job guys ! !
zjd
almost 3 years ago
116 Comments
Moral victory. That's what it is every time. Looks like some folks are employed in Ecuador though, and they carry American rifles too. What a co-ink-eedink. doop-ee-doo.
cgregor12
almost 3 years ago
3026 Comments
Well when you have the money might as well make a sub right? Next time they just need to hire someone who can actually drive it LOL!
KAICHARESE
almost 3 years ago
2784 Comments
Good catch guys....
Irishcop1961
almost 3 years ago
37000 Comments
It amazes me that if these drug dealer used there minds for legal activities how productive life could be. Nice grab.
Jonas
almost 3 years ago
38538 Comments
Great catch.......
skascooter007
almost 3 years ago
2010 Comments
sweet
Lawful_Blue
almost 3 years ago
1184 Comments
Nothing new, although good job on retrieving the sub.
SkoolCop
almost 3 years ago
4132 Comments
Went fishing the other day and look what I caught......... GREAT CATCH!!!!!!!
SuzanneNGa
almost 3 years ago
16618 Comments
OMG! That's one amazing story! A submarine... I would never have thought that drug dealers would use one but it makes perfect sense
JC1118
almost 3 years ago
22 Comments
Great score. On to the next!
Robocop33
almost 3 years ago
14380 Comments
Come on guys, does this really surprise you? They have billions of dollars to work with. We know that they have been using semi-submersibles for some time and the rumors have abounded that they are using fully submersibles now. As one poster said, this is ONE that they caught. How many others are out there right now? Our USCG hopefully has some damn good anti-sub sonar to find them and the right to use depth charges when located!
Anonymous
almost 3 years ago
sounds like they had help from some sort of military apparatus