(CNN) -- A fully functional submarine built for the primary purpose of transporting massive amounts of c0caine has been seized by Ecuadorean authorities with the help of U.S. drug enforcement agents.
A drug-trafficking organization built the sea-worthy vessel that is now being held near the border of Ecuador and Colombia, and one individual has been taken into custody, authorities said. The investigation into the group and the submarine, which was seized Friday, is ongoing.
"This is the first seizure of a clandestinely constructed fully operational submarine built to facilitate trans-oceanic drug trafficking," the Drug Enforcement Administration said in a statement.
The vessel utilized twin screws and was diesel electric-powered, the agency said. It was about 30 meters (98 feet) long and nearly 3 meters (nine feet) high from the deck plates to the ceiling. It has a periscope and an air-conditioning system.
"Traffickers historically employed slow-moving fishing boats, sail boats, pleasure craft go-fasts," said Jay Bergman, Andean regional director for the agency. "The advent of the narco-submarine presents new detection challenges for maritime interdiction forces. The submarine's nautical range, payload capacity and quantum leap in stealth have raised the stakes for the counter-drug forces and the national security community alike."
The submarine was constructed in a "remote jungle environment in an effort to elude law enforcement or military interdiction," the agency said.
Acting on intelligence, Ecuadorean authorities were able to seize the vessel for before its maiden voyage, the statement said.
i know a pretty few zetas yeah go to youtube and search for zetas here in veracruz that control the drug flow these are really rich and powerfull man not like 50 type of gangsta
Didn't something like this happen about a year ago? Some drug cartel bought a russian submarine and had like 7,000 kilos of c0caine on board and got caught with it?
@Rovin - It's all about money. that's why people would try that. Same thing with prohibition. It's illegal, but its where the money's at
I'm pretty sure the us has crazy radars and stuff for that in the seas, i was watching a special on it on like cnn or something of that nature where they have these boat/land vehicle things that ride up to the subs after the surface, these subs have been in production for years.