Colombian navy intercepts narco subs en route to Australia

A semi-submersible packed full of cocaine is the latest of a number to be seized in the Pacific Ocean.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersColombian navy intercepts narco-subs taking new route to AustraliaColombian NavySemi-submersible vessels have been used to smuggle drugs to Europe but now they are capable of sailing to Australia, the Colombian navy saysThe Colombian navy has intercepted a semi-submersible vessel packed with cocaine in the Pacific Ocean, as part of an operation in which hundreds of arrests have been made.

It said the vessel had enough fuel to sail to Australia, on what was believed to be a new smuggling route, and maps indicated that is where it was headed.

Smuggling cocaine from South America to Australia is particularly lucrative, as a kilogramme of the illegal drug can fetch up to $240,000 (£190,000) there - six times more than in the US, Colombian security forces said.

Officials said the semi-submersible was the third such vessel they had seized in that part of the Pacific.

That suggested to them that gangs had established new direct maritime route to Australia, they said.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyrjng13jlo

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