Colombian authorities uncovered a brand new drug trafficking route stretching from Colombia to Australia. Drug cartels now use semi-submersible vessels to move cocaine throughout the Pacific Ocean.
The invention got here throughout Operation Orion’s 14th part, involving safety forces from 60 international locations. Authorities seized a submarine-like vessel carrying 5 tons of cocaine close to Clipperton Island.
Vice Admiral Orlando Enrique Grisales revealed these vessels can journey straight from Colombia to Australia with out refueling. The crafts dive three meters deep and require 4 crew members.
Drug traffickers goal Australia for its profitable market. One kilogram of cocaine sells for $240,000 there, in comparison with $40,000 in america.
These wood vessels, lined in fiberglass, price round $1 million to construct. The journey from Colombia to Australia takes roughly two weeks.
Operation Orion seized 1,400 tons of medication and arrested over 400 individuals. The mission uncovered partnerships between Latin American cartels and legal teams in Europe and Oceania.
Colombian cocaine manufacturing elevated by 53% in 2023, reaching 2,600 tons yearly. Legal networks have developed from conventional cartel buildings to versatile worldwide partnerships.
The Colombian Navy works with Australian authorities to establish the organizations behind this new trafficking route. These refined vessels signify an evolution in drug trafficking strategies.
