The Atlantic Ocean is becoming a silent battleground. While the United States intensifies its efforts against suspected drug boats, a parallel struggle unfolds across the waves, waged by European allies facing an unprecedented surge in cocaine.
“Europe is literally being flooded with cocaine,” warns Artur Vaz, Portugal’s narcotics police chief. The immense profit margins fuel a relentless flow of drugs originating in Latin America, driving criminal organizations to increasingly desperate and ingenious methods of transport.
These methods extend beyond traditional cargo ships and speedboats. A chilling new trend has emerged: the rise of “narco-subs” – low-budget, semi-submersible vessels designed to slip largely undetected through the ocean depths.
These aren’t the sleek, high-tech submarines of fiction. They are crude, often hastily constructed, with only a portion of the hull visible above the waterline. Researchers note they are frequently painted in muted blues and grays, deliberately mimicking the stormy Atlantic to evade detection.
Portuguese authorities recently achieved a significant victory, intercepting a narco-sub mid-Atlantic and seizing 1.7 metric tons of cocaine. However, officials admit this represents only a fraction of the traffic successfully reaching European shores.
Interdiction rates are alarmingly low, estimated between 5% and 10%. Even with captures, the potential profits are so substantial that they don’t deter the cartels from continuing their operations. The risk, for them, remains worth the reward.
Unlike the more aggressive tactics employed by the U.S., European authorities generally prioritize capturing the crews for interrogation. The hope is to unravel the complex networks of drug kingpins, gangs, and distribution channels, rather than destroying the vessels outright.
Despite this approach, a desire for increased capabilities is growing. “We must be more muscular – that is, with greater means and a greater capacity for intervention,” states Vaz, emphasizing the need for stronger enforcement, but always within the bounds of the law.
The transatlantic voyages undertaken by these narco-subs represent a dramatic escalation. These vessels were once confined to coastal waters, but now routinely cross entire oceans, a testament to the evolving sophistication of drug trafficking organizations.
Derek Maltz, a former acting chief of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, describes the situation as “mind-boggling.” The sheer audacity and financial backing required for these operations are staggering, yet the perceived risk in Europe remains surprisingly low.
The crews themselves are often described as “desperate people,” willing to endure horrific conditions for a share of the profits. Confined to cramped, poorly ventilated compartments for days, they face the constant threat of mechanical failure, exposure, and even death.
Reports have surfaced of narco-subs discovered with deceased crew members, victims of the perilous journey. The kingpins, of course, remain safely removed from these dangers, orchestrating the operations from afar, shielded by layers of intermediaries and criminal networks.
