Under the Radar: What Hundreds of Narco Sub Seizures Tell Us About Global Cocaine Routes
Under the Radar: What Hundreds of Narco Sub Seizures Tell Us About Global Cocaine Routes is by by and
Below is a brief survey of this piece. Read the full work for an in-depth analysis.
The global cocaine trafficking landscape is evolving rapidly, with narco-submarines emerging as a key innovation in maritime smuggling tactics. In 2024, maritime authorities intercepted a near-record number of these vessels, revealing an expanding network of drug transportation that traverses oceanic routes from Colombia’s Pacific coast to destinations in Central America, Europe, and even Australia. These vessels, primarily Low-Profile Vessels (LPVs), represent a technological adaptation in transnational criminal logistics designed to evade traditional maritime surveillance.
Constructed in clandestine shipyards along Colombia’s western departments, particularly in Nariño and Cauca, these vessels range from simple wooden and fiberglass crafts to complex fully submersible vessels capable of carrying up to 10 tons of cocaine. The engineering behind these submarines reflects a remarkable blend of criminal entrepreneurship and maritime engineering, with costs ranging from 4 million depending on the vessel’s sophistication. Notably, the vessels’ design prioritizes stealth with low water profiles, camouflage paint matching oceanic conditions, and minimal wake signatures make detection extraordinarily challenging.
The article’s data reveals a critical shift in trafficking routes, as narco submarines are now attempting transoceanic journeys. Eight seizures in 2024 and 2025 demonstrate criminal networks’ growing ambition to directly access lucrative European and Australian markets. Despite ongoing law enforcement efforts, the continued use of these vessels indicates that they remain highly effective. This underscores the adaptability of transnational criminal organizations in responding to global counter-smuggling strategies.
Here is an outline of the article:
- Introduction
- Types of Vessels
- The Shipyards
- Interception Numbers Rise
- The Routes
- Floating Coffins
This article has excellent graphics to accompany the data and information presented. Below are some of those graphics.
