From Central South America to the US and Europe, the transportation of drugs is aided by the evolution of Narco submarines which are highly effective stealth vessels. In the last decade alone, an estimated 200 submarines have been captured, though a significant number still remain unaccounted for. In this blog, I will detail the varying constructions of Narco submarines and delve into the intricate operations involved as well as the business of cat and mouse the drug cartels and the law industry engage in.

Table of Contents

• The Evolution of Narco Submarines
• Understanding Narco Submarine Designs
• Master Builders and Their Craft
• Challenges for Law Enforcement
• FAQs
• Summary

The Evolution of Narco Submarines

The evolution of narco submarines started with simple designs meant for minimal travel. However, as law enforcement put more focus to intercept drug shipments, cartels started adapting by more professional shifting their manufacturing processes. While this was happening, a new industry at secret shipyards surfaced in Colombia which was out of the federal government’s control.

Oscar Moreno Ricardo: The King of Semi-Submersibles

Oscar Moreno Ricardo, as per the interpretation of Colombians, is the Semi Submersible King. He is said to have a covert shipyard in the Colombian jungle where he, along with his accomplices, designs submarines that can travel thousands of miles while concealing tons of cocaine. These submarines remain undetectable by law enforcement, which demonstrates outstanding brilliance and engineering prowess.

Analyzing the Designs of Narco Submarines

Every variant of narco submarine has several distinguishing characteristics that enable the evasion of radar detection and facilitate stealthy drug movement. Let us take a closer look at some of these designs.

Low-Profile Vessels

The first variant we will be discussing is the ‘Low Profile Vessel’, a baseline narco submarine that came in existence in the 2000s. This boat feature a length of about 14 meters, placing it in the category of low profile vessels. Such vessels have their uppermost section submerged beneath the surface, camouflaging itself as the body of water, and is therefore almost impossible to spot with radar technology.

Five crew members travel in barely liveable conditions and there is only one hatch for access and egress. The submarine has three compartments – a crew room, an engine room, and a storage section that is crammed with 7.7 tons of cocaine. The vessel’s position relative to the water surface, as well as the water load, fuel level, and engine weight, greatly improves the probability of reaching the destination without being detected.

Transatlantic Journeys

There is another model referred to as CH which is over 20 meters long and built to carry out transatlantic voyages. It has a three-man crew including the Spanish ex professional boxer, Auguste Alvarez. This vessel also fits the description of a semi-submersible configuration and carries three compartments: an engine room, a crew space, and a deck hold with a large portion allocated to fuel for the approximately 6112 kilometers journey.

The crew overcame tremendous obstacles ranging from dealing with storms, insufficient diet, and rough weather, however, the crew did make it through. Unfortunately, after 27 days the vessel sunk due to depleting all its fuel. Law authorities wasted no time in arresting the crew onboard after they recovered three tons of cocaine, accumulated to a value of 100 million dollars.

The Snorkel Submarine

The snorkel sub, measuring around 24 meters, represents a more advanced design capable of almost full submersion. It features a snorkel for air intake which allows the vessel to self-breathe while submerged. Built from fiberglass, it is powered by a diesel engine with an onboard generator for various systems like surveillance cameras.

This submarine can carry up to 8 tons of cocaine and has yet to be caught at sea. Its design allows it to effectively evade detection, which makes it favored by smugglers.

Master Builders and Their Craft

The construction of narcotic submarines is the prerogative of a cadre of master builders – artisans with a tech savvy who can craft effective vessels out of a scant amount of materials. Highly effective, the designs might look conventional but they embody a minimum viable product that is good enough to transport precious cargo over long distances.

Most skillful craftsmen today have gone further than conventional designs because, with time, these vessels have grown increasingly sophisticated and even more powerful such as the fully submersible model discovered in November 2020 which operated solely on battery power.

Challenges for Law Enforcement Agencies

A considerable difficulty exists for law enforcement agencies in detecting narco submarines due to the sophisticated development of these vessels, which makes it easy for many of them to operate without interception. As the United States Coast Guard and other agencies improve their detection capabilities, the scope of the problem gets more complex with the ever increasing number of narco submarines and their innovative designs.

While law enforcement struggles to keep up with the ever evolving tactics of the cartels, the cartels continue refining their systems. Ever more sophisticated narco submarines remain an active problem, and alongside it lies a more multilateral issue of borders, dynamics, and criminals versus authorities.

 

FAQs

What are narco submarines?

Narco submarines are made by drug traffickers to transport drugs undetected. They can be vessels ranging from semi-submersibles to fully submersible designs and built in secret shipyards.

How do narco submarines avoid detection?

They merge with the ocean surface to stay concealed when evading law enforcement. Additionally, advanced engineering techniques are employed to reduce radar signatures.

What is the significance of Oscar Moreno Ricardo?

His works exemplify the ingenuity and league of drug cartels to counteract law enforcement measures. He is known as the king of semi-submersibles for his role in the design and manufacturing of narco submarines in Colombia.

How effective are law enforcement efforts against narco submarines?

Narco submarines are tough to detect and capture because there are many unmanned vessels that evade capture because of the unlimited designs drug traffickers employ. Law enforcement has made efforts to intercept the narcotics, but because of the sheer volume this means that there is an ongoing game of cat and mouse involving the traffickers and law enforcement.

 

Summary

To summarize, narco submarines are an intricate and advanced coping method of transporting cargo utilized by international drug traffickers. Also, their design is brilliantly made alongside the obstacles presented to enforcement agencies, and is proof to new ways of combating drug trafficking. The arms race escalates for both sides fortified by advancing technology subsequentially compelling each other to take risks in an already dangerous endeavor.