More Than 6 Tons of Cocaine Seized by Colombian Navy From 'Narco Subs,' Drug Stashes

Authorities in Colombia have seized more than six tons of cocaine from a so-called "narco sub" in Nariño, a department known as one of the country's main coca cultivation hotspots.

In a video posted on X, members of the Colombian Navy can be seen intercepting the semi-submersible vessel off Colombia's Pacific coast. Officials also discovered two underground hiding places where a criminal cell had stashed approximately 270 kilograms of cocaine.

Officials said the semi-submersible was carrying three tons of cocaine, and the total estimated street value of all seizures is nearly $300 million. Authorities did not disclose how many people were arrested or the intended destination of the drugs.

"The National Navy reaffirms its commitment in the fight against drug trafficking and will continue to carry out large-scale operations against organized armed groups," said Camilo Mauricio Gutiérrez, commander of Colombia's Pacific Naval Force, in a statement.

Just a day earlier Colombian Navy forces intercepted another large shipment of cocaine reportedly headed to Central America. Authorities said they seized around three tons of narcotics and arrested three people after spotting a "suspicious" vessel. That shipment had an estimated street value of $97 million, according to the navy.

Though commonly referred to as "narco subs," these vessels are not true submarines and cannot fully submerge. Instead, they are designed to sit extremely low in the water, making them difficult to detect.

Low-profile vessels (LPVs) are typically constructed from wood and fiberglass—materials that are difficult to spot on radar—and are painted to blend in with ocean waters. According to the Colombian Navy's International Center for Research and Analysis Against Maritime Drug Trafficking (CIMCON), the estimated cost of building one of these vessels is about $150,000.

A near-record number of narco subs were intercepted crossing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in 2024, according to InSight Crime. The vessels have also begun appearing in new maritime zones across both oceans.

These vessels are typically built in clandestine, artisanal shipyards along Colombia's Pacific coast, often located in remote areas. InSight Crime reported that more than half of the 240 narco sub seizures it analyzed originated from such locations.

Data from CIMCON shows authorities discovered dozens of these shipyards between 2019 and 2023, including 26 in Nariño, 10 in Cauca, and three each in Valle del Cauca and Chocó.