Ghost submarine with $87.7 million of cocaine, two bodies aboard seized off coast of Colombia

It was like a scene straight out of “Narcos.”

The Colombian Navy stumbled upon a chilling sight after seizing a ghost submarine and finding two dead bodies — along with more than $87.7 million worth of cocaine aboard.

Officials estimated that there was more than 2.6 tons of cocaine on the 49-foot-long vessel found floating in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday.

Two survivors were also located and in need of life-saving medical attention.

“Once the illegal device was located, military personnel found two individuals in poor health conditions on the outside of the vessel,” Colombia’s Ministry of National Defense said in a statement.


It was like a scene straight out of Narcos.
Officials estimated over 2.6 tons of cocaine was on the vessel.
Newsflash

The Colombian Navy stumbled upon a chilling sight after seizing a ghost submarine and finding two dead bodies -- along with more than $87.7 million worth of cocaine aboard.
The Colombian Navy stumbled upon a chilling sight after seizing a ghost submarine and finding two dead bodies — along with more than $87.7 million worth of cocaine aboard.
Newsflash

“Apparently, there was an accident inside the semi-submersible due to the generation of toxic gasses from the fuel,” the statement continued.

“The two men were treated and transported to a nearby vessel, where they were given the necessary medical attention to safeguard their lives.”

Both the two survivors — as well as the corpses and the coke haul — were brought to the municipality of Tumaco, “where they were presented to the Technical Investigation Corps of the Attorney General’s Office,” the statement concluded.

The Colombian government touted the Navy’s efforts in preventing the drugs from being trafficked, estimating that it kept more than six million doses off the illegal market.


Picture shows the positive test for the drugs found onboard a submarine.
Picture shows the positive test for the drugs found onboard a submarine.
Newsflash

Officials estimated that there were more than 2.6 tons of cocaine on the 49-foot-long vessel found floating in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday.
Officials estimated that there were more than 2.6 tons of cocaine on the 49-foot-long vessel found floating in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday.
Newsflash

Officials also put out a video of the moment the officers boarded the partially submerged vessel and laid out the dozens of bricks of cocaine found inside.

The submarine was one of three recently seized by the government that allegedly belonged to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), local media outlets reported.

FARC, the Marxist guerilla group that attempted to overthrow Colombia’s government between 1964 and 2017, was involved in drug trafficking, kidnappings, and other criminal activities to finance their work.

The group worked to develop narco-submarines, vessels that like the one found on Sunday, travel partially submerged to avoid radar detection and other surveillance equipment.  


Two survivors were also located and in need of life-saving medical attention.
Two survivors were also located and in need of life-saving medical attention.
Newsflash

The Colombian government touted the Navy's efforts in preventing the drugs from being trafficked, estimating that it kept more than six million doses off the illegal market.
The Colombian government touted the Navy’s efforts in preventing the drugs from being trafficked, estimating that it kept more than six million doses off the illegal market.
Newsflash

A 2016 analysis of the submarines found that despite being constructed in remote areas in the jungle, the vessels were sophisticated enough to become fully submersible and transport more than 10 tons of drugs to illegal markets in Central America.

Following the bust on Sunday, Colombia’s Ministry of National Defense said it was committed to cracking down on any Narco vessels in its country.

“The Colombian Navy will continue deploying all its capabilities to counter the scourge of drug trafficking structures that commit crimes in the Colombian Pacific,” the agency said.