LatinNews Daily Report - 30 May 2012

SECURITY | Colombian authorities discover semi-submersible near Pacific coast. On 29 May the Colombian navy discovered a semi-submersible vessel hidden in dense vegetation on the banks of Cajambre River, where the latter flows into the Pacific Ocean some 65km south of the Port of Buenaventura. The 7.5m long and 1.5m wide vessel was officially described as “an unmanned artefact that submerges when being tugged by boats, which makes its detection difficult during navigation”. The semi-submersible could carry up to 5 tonnes (t) of cocaine and was discovered just two kilometres away from a go-fast boat capable of transporting 10t. Since 1993 when the Colombian navy discovered the first semi-submersible, 76 such vessels have been discovered - 59 of them located near the Pacific. In fact, of the 74t of cocaine seized by the navy in 2011, 17% was found in submersibles or semi-submersibles.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 144 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options

• Subscribe
• Sign up for a one-time, 14-day trial