In a significant maritime operation, the Colombian navy successfully intercepted a semi-submersible vessel laden with cocaine in the Pacific Ocean, targeting a new smuggling route to Australia.
The Colombian navy revealed that semi-submersible vessels, traditionally utilized for transporting drugs to Europe, have now been adapted to reach Australian shores. The seized vessel was equipped with sufficient fuel, suggesting it was headed for Australia – a destination identified as part of a lucrative new smuggling route. This assertion was backed by maps found on board the submarine, indicating its intended course.
The financial appeal of smuggling cocaine from South America to Australia is immense. Colombian security forces highlighted that a kilogram of cocaine could command a price as high as $240,000 in Australia, which is six times its value in the United States. This economic incentive is presumably a driving factor behind the establishment of this new maritime route.
This latest interception marks the third such semi-submersible captured by the Colombian navy in this region of the Pacific Ocean. The frequency of these seizures suggests that criminal organizations have established robust maritime channels for the direct movement of narcotics to Australia.
Vice-Admiral Orlando Enrique Grisales, the chief of naval operations for the Colombian Navy, provided insights during a press briefing. He confirmed that all three intercepted semi-submersibles were capable of completing the transoceanic journey from Colombia to Australia without refueling. “The first was discovered in Colombian waters, and thanks to the maps it carried, we identified the route,” Vice-Admiral Grisales stated. “That’s when we began collaborating with Australian authorities,” he added.
The interceptions are part of ‘Orion,’ a collaborative multinational naval operation that has resulted in the confiscation of 225 tonnes of cocaine over a span of six weeks, and over 400 arrests across several countries. Vice-Admiral Grisales noted the operation has exposed strong links between drug trafficking networks in South America and Oceania, pointing out their organizational sophistication.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro commended the navy for its effective operations and international cooperation in combating drug smuggling. This operation underscores the global collaboration required to address the international drug trade.
The interception of the narco-submarine en route to Australia highlights the evolving strategies of drug trafficking organizations and the importance of international cooperation in addressing these challenges.
Source: BBC
