In a historic bust off Colombia’s Caribbean coast, the Colombian Navy has intercepted a first-of-its-kind unmanned drug submersible… and it’s turning heads across global intelligence communities. What makes this “narco sub” different? It was equipped with a Starlink satellite antenna, signaling a high-tech shift in how drug cartels may operate in the future.
The semi-submersible craft was empty at the time of capture, suggesting it was a test run by traffickers… likely a trial by the notorious Gulf Clan, Colombia’s largest and most powerful drug cartel. According to naval sources and Western intelligence, this is a bold new step in remote-controlled drug smuggling.
Built in secret, jungle-based shipyards, manned drug subs have been used for years to smuggle cocaine from Colombia to Central America and Mexico. But this unmanned version… capable of carrying up to 1.5 tons of cocaine… represents an evolution in trafficking methods. And it’s likely just the beginning.
A video released by the navy shows the sleek, grey vessel with a Starlink dish mounted on its bow… a clear sign that traffickers are now leveraging satellite internet for remote navigation far beyond traditional smuggling routes. This isn’t the first time cartels have tapped into Elon Musk’s Starlink tech, but it’s the first time a drone narco sub has surfaced in South American waters.
