BOGOTA – Colombian security forces, with support from the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), have carried out a joint operation against a narco-submarine in international waters, resulting in the destruction of an estimated 10 tons of cocaine and the arrest of four crew members.
According to information released by U.S. authorities, the operation targeted a semi-submersible vessel used by drug trafficking organizations to transport large quantities of narcotics across maritime routes. The cocaine seized is estimated to have a street value of approximately US$441 million.
The semi-submersible — commonly referred to as a “narco-submarine” — is a type of low-profile vessel frequently used by criminal networks to evade radar detection while transporting cocaine from South America toward Central America, Mexico and onward to North America and Europe.
U.S. officials stated that the operation was conducted with the backing of INL, the Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, which provides technical and operational assistance to partner countries in counter-narcotics efforts.
However, at the time of publication, the Colombian government had not publicly confirmed all operational details cited in the U.S. release. Authorities have not yet disclosed the exact coordinates of the interception or the final destination of the shipment.
The seizure underscores the continued scale of maritime drug trafficking operations in the region. Semi-submersible vessels have become a preferred method for cartels due to their capacity to carry multi-ton shipments and their ability to travel long distances while remaining difficult to detect.
The operation highlights ongoing security cooperation between Colombia and the United States in combating transnational narcotics networks operating in international waters.