narco semi-submersibles cross the Pacific from Colombia to Australia

Semi-submersibles loaded with cocaine are crossing the entire Pacific between Colombia and Australia, the Colombian navy announced Wednesday, reporting 225 tons of the drug recently seized during an international operation.

The operation, which lasted 45 days, involved around sixty countries. This fourteenth naval campaign «Orion» against drug trafficking led to the seizure of 225 tons of cocaine hydrochloride and 128 tons of marijuana, Colombian Navy Vice Admiral Orlando Enrique Grisales told the press. The officer notably revealed the seizure of a semi-submersible which was heading to Australia with cocaine manufactured in Colombia.

“A semi-submersible was intercepted in Pacific waters 1,200 miles southwest of the French island of Clipperton (nearly 3,500 km northwest of the Colombian coast), heading towards Australia. It was carrying a cargo of 5,000 kg, or 5 tonnes of cocaine hydrochloride, but had enough fuel to go from Colombia to Australia without resupply at sea.detailed Admiral Grisales.

“This is the third case of a semi-submersible on the Colombia-Australia route” identified, continues the admiral. “The first was found in Colombian waters and, thanks to the cartography it carried, we had identified its route”.

“New line” of drug trafficking

Since then, Colombian authorities have been working together with their Australian counterparts on this “new line” drug trafficking, with sophisticated wooden vessels covered with fiberglass, capable of traveling this route of more than 15,000 km without refueling, explained the senior officer.

According to Admiral Grisales, a kilogram of cocaine sells for up to $240,000 in Australia, while the price in the United States is between $33,000 and $40,000. More than 400 arrests were made as part of the operation led by the international justice network Orion, supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Colombia is the world's largest exporter of cocaine. In 2023, cocaine production will increase by 53% to reach 2,600 tonnes per year, according to the United Nations.