The Uptick In The Use Of Submersibles By Narco Traffickers To Move Product To Market (6/17/24)

The Epstein Chronicles

The Sinaloa cartel has increasingly utilized submersibles, including semi-submersibles and fully submersible vessels, to smuggle narcotics to Europe. These innovative maritime strategies are part of the cartel's broader efforts to evade detection and enhance their drug trafficking operations. Here’s a summary of how they use these submersibles:

1. Design and Construction: The cartel employs skilled engineers and craftsmen to build submersibles, often in remote, clandestine shipyards. These vessels are designed to be low-profile and difficult to detect by radar or aerial surveillance.
2. Drug Transport: The submersibles are loaded with large quantities of narcotics, primarily cocaine, which are securely packed to prevent water damage and detection.
3. Routes and Logistics: These vessels typically embark from the coasts of South America, particularly Colombia, and navigate through international waters to reach Europe. They avoid busy shipping lanes and frequently change routes to minimize the risk of interception by authorities.
4. Stealth and Evasion: Submersibles travel mostly submerged, with only a small portion of the vessel visible above the water, reducing the chance of detection. Some fully submersible versions can travel entirely underwater for extended periods.
5. Landing and Distribution: Upon reaching European waters, the narcotics are transferred to smaller boats or coastal drop-off points. From there, they are distributed through the cartel’s established networks across Europe.
6. Challenges for Law Enforcement: The use of submersibles presents significant challenges for law enforcement agencies. Detecting and intercepting these vessels requires sophisticated technology and international cooperation.

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source:
El Chapo’s Sinaloa cartel ‘using drug submarines’ to traffic narcotics into Europe - Daily Star
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