A 15-metre narco submarine containing an astonishing £72 million worth of cocaine and two dead bodies has been discovered off the coast of Colombia.
The Colombian navy seized the ship – which had more than 2.6 tons of cocaine on board – in the Pacific Ocean.
When boarding the boat on Sunday, authorities also found two survivors receiving life-saving medical care on a nearby ship.
Colombian authorities believe the two deaths were due to poisonous gas inhalation.
Video footage captured the moment when Colombian authorities unloaded the boat, depositing a significant amount of cocaine they had seized.
A 14-metre narco submarine (pictured) with £72 million worth of cocaine and two dead bodies has been discovered off the coast of Colombia
The Colombian Navy seized the submarine containing more than 2.6 tons of cocaine (pictured) in the Pacific Ocean
Two people found on board received life-saving medical attention, but another two were found dead
Spanish media reports that the submarine was one of three submarines seized by Colombian officials – all believed to have belonged to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
The FARC was a Marxist-Leninist guerrilla group that operated in Colombia between 1964 and 2017, attempting to overthrow the country’s government and establish a communist state.
The group was involved in drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping and other criminal activities to fund the decades-long uprising.
Obviously, each narco submarine can carry up to six tons of cocaine.
Semi-submersible narco submarines are designed to travel partially submerged to avoid detection by radar and other surveillance equipment.
They are often built in remote areas of the Colombian jungle and their design and construction entail a high degree of secrecy and sophistication.
Reports also claim that Colombian troops discovered and destroyed a cocaine processing center in a rural area near the northern city of Santa Marta. It is believed that they seized another two tons of cocaine there.
Colombia’s Ministry of National Defense said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “During maritime control and security operations in the Colombian Pacific, the Colombian armed forces intercepted a semi-submersible about 15 meters long, carrying 2,643 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, destined for distribution in Central America.
“Once the illegal device was found, the military found two persons in poor health on the outside of the ship. Apparently there was an accident in the semi-submersible boat due to the release of toxic gases from the fuel.
“The two men were treated and transported to a nearby ship, where they received the necessary medical care to save their lives.
Spanish media reports that the submarine was one of three submarines seized by Colombian officials – all believed to have belonged to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Pictured: The moment Colombian police discovered and seized the narco-submarine in the Pacific Ocean
Pictured: A positive test for the drugs found aboard the semi-submersible narco submarine
‘During the inspection of the illegal device, which contained a large amount of water, two bodies without signs of life were found and recovered. After performing these procedures, the Colombian Navy recovered the alkaloid carried in the semi-submersible.
“Then the rescued persons, the bodies and the drug shipments were transported to Tumaco Municipality, Narino Department, where they were presented to the Technical Investigation Corps of the Attorney General’s Office, which determined that the alkaloid was cocaine hydrochloride.
“This operational deployment, which received foreign support, prevented more than $87 million from entering the financial structures of drug trafficking organizations operating in the Colombian Pacific and more than six million doses from circulating on the international illicit market. .
“The Colombian Navy will continue to use all its capabilities to counter the scourge of drug trafficking in the Colombian Pacific.”