Posted on 07/03/2010 5:17:49 PM PDT by OldDeckHand
The U.S. government announced on Saturday afternoon that for the first time ever a fully operational submarine used by drug traffickers has been seized in the waters of South America.
The craft, which could move multi-ton loads of cocaine, was seized in a jungle tributary of Ecuador leading to the Pacific Ocean by Ecuadoran authorities using Drug Enforcement Administration intelligence.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
"Ryan Danoff of Fort Lauderdale told the South Florida Sun Sentinel he and two friends were about 4 miles offshore in his 31-foot boat, Fishy Business, when they spotted what looked like a mast against the horizon. But when they looked more closely they could see no vessel and, when Danoff moved toward it, he realized it was a periscope."
Sighted Sub Sank Same.
I remember that story clearly! The sub took off at 20 kts after the fisherman spotted it and followed. The coast guard was very vague when they got back to him —probably because such incidents are embarrassing.
This is the primary method used to smuggle cocaine into the USA now, though semi-submersibles are almost always used. This is a trend that will continue.
The rumor is that Middle East entities provide technical & logistical support for such ops.
CLOSE THE FREAKING BORDER!!
I was hoping for more details on the capture itself — like maybe they dropped a giant electromagnet from a helicopter and then just pulled it out of the water, like they pulled that car right off the highway in “Dr. No”, then flew them around the countryside at 500 feet just for fun for a half hour.
If we found one, then surely there are 10 more, and it is likely that they have been doing this for some time.
I do remember that story. It was the main reason I clicked on this. Hmmmm.
Ping.
Well then, it AIN'T a civilian craft, which would have to be very sophisticated to even hit ten knots submerged.
Wrong #1 Son. It was You Only Live Twice filmed largely in Japan. Nancy Sinatra sang the song and it was one of the better Bond songs and I am not a Nancy fan.
just...how much steel or welding gas does it take? there must be special rod for the welders. What happens to a sub at end of the run...scuttle or go home?
Obama and Hillary will now push for a renewed ban on submarines in the US, because too many are finding their way into druggies hands.....
Why should they care .. the more drugged up they are the easier they are to fool.
Bush already beat them to it, sorta. The Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008 makes it a federal offense to operate a stateless submersible vessels in international waters, if those vessels are being operated with the intent of avoiding detection. In the two(ish) years since the law was enacted, there have been over a dozen prosecutions. I'm not sure what the conviction rate has been.
Never happen. The ones who get these mopes int office need their toys.
Everything you said could be absolutely accurate. But, I'd point out that the profit motive of the drug cartels shouldn't be underestimated. The story says the sub is capable of a multi-ton payload. The retail value of two-tons of cocaine is appx $1billion US. It wouldn't take many trips for a $150 million sub to pay for itself, easily.
Also, while we don't think of the Naval prowess of Latin American countries, Venezuela, Argentina, Chili and Brazil (at least) all have subs in their respective fleets. Brazil is even developing their own nuclear powered sub. There's certainly the technical expertise in Latin America to build a 100ft sub, primitive or relatively advanced.
Never happen. The ones who get these mopes into office need their toys.
Let’s cut our defense budget!
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