Colombia touts 1,400 metric ton drug busts on 'narco subs'

An international anti-drug operation led by Colombia’s navy intercepted six “narco subs” that were packed with cocaine and marijuana, the South American nation said on Wednesday. 

The mission, supported by 62 countries, stopped the submarines and seized 1,400 metric tons of drugs, mostly marijuana in the operation, which took place between Oct. 1 and Nov. 14, according to Colombian Vice Admiral Enrique Grisales, CNN reports. 

These submarines can travel 10,000 miles without refueling, according to CBS News. More than 400 people have been arrested in the operation, which deprived the drug cartels out of more than $8.4 billion, CBS also reported. 

One submarine, which was carrying 5 tons of cocaine and was bound for Australia, was traveling along a trafficking route identified by Colombian authorities after a separate bust yielded nautical maps.

“The first was discovered in Colombian waters, and thanks to the maps it carried, we identified the route. That’s when we began working with Australian authorities,” Grisales told reporters. 

Australian authorities have said drug cartels are increasingly targeting the country for sales where an illicit market has flourished as cocaine use has increased in the country leading to the highest street prices in the world. 

Based on United Nations estimates from 2022, the total amount of cocaine seized—225 tons—makes up about 8% of global production. Global production of cocaine reached a record 2,700 tons that year.