mini subs.. What will they think of ?

[tony357 386]

http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010 ... latestnews

 

Authorities in Ecuador, joined by agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, have seized a submarine built secretly in the jungles of the South American country, according to a DEA press release.

 

The electric-powered submarine, 30 feet long, was intended to transport multi-ton quantities of cocaine. But after acting on intelligence obtained by the DEA, authorities in Ecuador were able to seize the clandestine vessel on Friday before it was ever deployed, the DEA said.

 

One person at the site of the submarine was taken into custody, but no additional details about the suspect were provided. The DEA said the investigation of the captured submarine is ongoing.

 

In order the evade detection by law enforcement or military personnel, the submarine was constructed in a remote area of jungle near the Ecuador-Colombia border. Friday

[lunker 274]

It's capitalism. When there is a market for a good, sellers will do what they have to to get the goods to the consumers. It's even more true when the profit margin is as high as it is for somethiong like cocaine. And if that means building a submarine...

 

I'd like to see our government making some revenues off drugs instead of sending it back down to South American Narco Warlords that are as powerful as elected governments in many cases.

The same goes for oil profits. I'd love to see us going to every oil alternative we can and watch those oil-rich kingdoms in the Middle East implode and starve.

Our bad habits make people who hate us (and try to kill us) rich.

[Damjan 73]

They cost a $1M to make ,

 

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/7081395.html

 

 

 

According to wikipedia there was a legal loophole (now closed) on the penalty when you re caught in one of these

 

When semi-submersibles are stopped at sea their crews usually scuttle them, sending boat and cocaine to the bottom in a minute or so and leaving no evidence of trafficking. Until 2008, in accordance with maritime law, the crew was rescued and, if there was no physical evidence of wrongdoing, released without criminal charges. To address this legal loophole, the US Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act was enacted in September 2008, making it a "felony for those who knowingly or intentionally operate or embark in a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) that is without nationality and that is or has navigated in international waters, with the intent to evade detection."[21] The penalty is a prison term of up to 20 years in the U.S.[34]

The bill does not apply to flagged vessels (i.e., that have been registered with some nation). The bill grants extraterritorial jurisdiction over international waters, and also makes it illegal to lack relevant documents. Instead of an anti-narcotics operation turning into a rescue mission when the submarines are scuttled and sink, the crew can be arrested and charged.[35]

Some alleged narco sub smugglers are now facing criminal charges in USA for operating an unflagged semi-submersible.[36]

Colombia's congress passed a law in June 2009 punishing the building of semi-submersible vessels with up to 12 years in prison, and transporting drugs in them with up to 14 years.[35]

[KpdPipes 388]

They cost a $1M to make ,

 

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/7081395.html

 

 

 

According to wikipedia there was a legal loophole (now closed) on the penalty when you re caught in one of these

 

When semi-submersibles are stopped at sea their crews usually scuttle them, sending boat and cocaine to the bottom in a minute or so and leaving no evidence of trafficking. Until 2008, in accordance with maritime law, the crew was rescued and, if there was no physical evidence of wrongdoing, released without criminal charges. To address this legal loophole, the US Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act was enacted in September 2008, making it a "felony for those who knowingly or intentionally operate or embark in a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) that is without nationality and that is or has navigated in international waters, with the intent to evade detection."[21] The penalty is a prison term of up to 20 years in the U.S.[34]

The bill does not apply to flagged vessels (i.e., that have been registered with some nation). The bill grants extraterritorial jurisdiction over international waters, and also makes it illegal to lack relevant documents. Instead of an anti-narcotics operation turning into a rescue mission when the submarines are scuttled and sink, the crew can be arrested and charged.[35]

Some alleged narco sub smugglers are now facing criminal charges in USA for operating an unflagged semi-submersible.[36]

Colombia's congress passed a law in June 2009 punishing the building of semi-submersible vessels with up to 12 years in prison, and transporting drugs in them with up to 14 years.[35]

 

Most of the boats that are converted are actually stolen. there was also talk a few years back of the narcos buying on old Soviet Diesel boat to use to smuggle in Coke in Multi-ton loads.

[chefhunter34 1]

Time to go back to depth charges. Or torpedos

[takeji 3]

They had a show on Nat Geo not to long ago about these subs. http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/inside/4291/Overview

 

Was amazing how some of them actually made it to the US.

[Ray Ray 3,566]

I remember chasing cigarette boats in the pacific off the coast of mexico and we could never catch them. We only caught them if they broke down. So we would rescue the crew and surrender them to the mexican navy, where they were released and getting ready for another drug run!

[DaveWaters 0]

Wow big win for DEA... Don't wait until its full of coke then seize it.

[rifleman 90]

I would love to design and build an ocean going mini sub with an unlimited budget. Who cares what it is used for!

[sirsloop 1]

with an unlimited budget... why dont they just get an actual Russian submarine or something? I'm sure they have a few laying around for sale...

[bbk 188]

Certain subs from certain countries have certain signatures that tend to stick out like a sore thumb. Same goes with cigarette boats. The cartels and runners are finding far less conspicuous ways of getting across the border that doesn't involve buying a million dollar sub + maintenance on said sub

[sirsloop 1]

Yeah like driving into AZ.

[jeffesonm 0]

I was hoping this thread was about tiny hoagies, like sliders but sandwiches instead.

[sirsloop 1]

I was hoping it was like mini subwoofers or something... like crazy ones not those wussy woofers.

[KpdPipes 388]

Certain subs from certain countries have certain signatures that tend to stick out like a sore thumb. Same goes with cigarette boats. The cartels and runners are finding far less conspicuous ways of getting across the border that doesn't involve buying a million dollar sub + maintenance on said sub

 

 

True..but then again ASW along the coast has been cut way back since the Cold War, especially in the Gulf.... Lets say they pay 10 million for the boat..one load might net them 150-200 million. the HARDEST part of the whole thing would be getting rid of all that product at once on delivery.