Plying the Pacific, Subs Surface as Key Tool of Drug Cartels

Now this is a challenge for the Coast Guard. Drugs today- terrorists tomorrow? This is pretty scary stuff if you think about the implications.

These vessels are intelligently designed. They are not very comfortable, but they are now very seaworthy. They are capable of carrying multi-ton cargos. They can travel thousands of miles without refuel or resupply. And they are very hard to detect," said U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Joseph Nimmich, director of the Joint Interagency Task Force South.

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/05/AR2009060503718.html?hpid=topnews

I listened to VADM Pekoske talk about this earlier in the week...

While the article says "subs" in the headline, it is important for people to understand that what they're talking about is "Self Propelled Semi-Submersibles" aka SPSS. Think "ironclad" instead of subs.

Thanks to the U.S. federal government, because of recent legislation in the last year, these vessels are now easier to prosecute than in the past, all while making it safer for Coast Guard boarding teams. These are very hot on the west coast.

We used to see a SPSS in Key West, out of the water, when my ship would pull in. It wasn't as advanced as some we're seeing these days.

"America's Most Wanted" as well as an issue of "Maxim" covered SPSSs a few months ago. It's worth a look.

“If you can carry 10 tons of cocaine, you can carry 10 tons of anything.”

REAR ADMIRAL JOSEPH L. NIMMICH
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
Director - Joint Interagency Task Force South
Key West, Florida

"...Thanks to the U.S. federal government, because of recent legislation in the last year, these vessels are now easier to prosecute than in the past, all while making it safer for Coast Guard boarding teams. These are very hot on the west coast..."

Hmm...I'd think an M61 20mm would do a fine job of prosecuting them...

OOOPS...there's that military side of me showing again...

flieger83 said:

"...Thanks to the U.S. federal government, because of recent legislation in the last year, these vessels are now easier to prosecute than in the past, all while making it safer for Coast Guard boarding teams. These are very hot on the west coast..."

Hmm...I'd think an M61 20mm would do a fine job of prosecuting them...

OOOPS...there's that military side of me showing again...

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Hey, they could be smuggling 10 tons of teddy bears in...
gotta make sure it's cocaine or C4 first...