The Colombian navy recently seized an autonomous semisubmersible capable of carrying over 1.5 tons of cocaine, marking a first in the region. This uncrewed vessel, detected near Santa Marta, featured advanced equipment such as antennas, a Starlink modem, and two surveillance cameras. Officials suspect it was on a trial run for transporting cocaine, likely linked to the Gulf Clan, Colombia's largest drug-trafficking organization. The seizure illustrates a troubling trend towards sophisticated, unmanned systems in drug trafficking, posing increased challenges for maritime security as Colombia faces record cocaine production driven by soaring global demand.
"The Colombian navy announced the seizure of an autonomous semisubmersible, the first of its kind in the country's waters... believed to be on a trial run to transport cocaine to the US or Europe."
"The discovery reflects a migration toward more sophisticated unmanned systems... which pose a growing challenge to international maritime security... the vessel was operated by the Gulf Clan, Colombia's largest drug-trafficking group."
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