A semi-submersible vessel carrying greater than 7,000 kilos of suspected cocaine was intercepted within the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Mexico, the nation’s navy introduced Thursday, in a dramatic seizure captured on video. The so-called “narco sub” was roughly 85 toes lengthy and is taken into account to be the most important of its sort seized by the present authorities, officers mentioned in a news release.
5 individuals from totally different nationalities touring on the vessel have been arrested Tuesday and brought to the coastal metropolis of La Paz, officers mentioned.
Authorities mentioned that navy ships and helicopters pursued the semi-submersible till officers have been in the end capable of embark on the vessel, the place they discovered roughly 186 packages of suspected cocaine.
Video posted to Facebook by the Mexican navy reveals an aerial view of the semi-submersible being chased by ships and a helicopter earlier than lastly being intercepted.
“The success of the mission was achieved because of the coaching of the naval personnel, for the reason that components boarded the unlawful vessel in movement, below situations of sturdy winds and waves on the excessive seas,” the navy mentioned.
Officers mentioned that the navy has now seized about 47,000 kilos of cocaine in Mexican waters this yr and arrested 121 individuals “at sea finishing up unlawful actions.”
Semi-submersibles are generally utilized by traffickers in Central and South America to move medication. The vessels transfer low within the water to flee detection and infrequently are capable of totally submerge.
They’re notably widespread off the coast of Colombia. Final month, the Colombian navy intercepted one such vessel carrying greater than 5,000 kilos of cocaine because the crew unsuccessfully tried to sink the cargo of medication. Additionally in Could, the largest so-called “narco sub” ever recorded in Colombia was intercepted with 3 tons of cocaine on board.
In March, officers seized a semi-submersible carrying two dead bodies and an enormous haul of medication off the coast of Colombia.
Thanks for studying CBS NEWS.
Create your free account or log in
for extra options.
