Authorities recently intercepted a semi-submersible vessel, commonly known as a “narco sub,” carrying nearly 6.5 tons of cocaine in the Atlantic Ocean. The vessel was bound for the Iberian Peninsula when Portuguese judicial police, working with international agencies, seized it.
Dubbed Operation Nautilus, the bust accounts for nearly a quarter of the record 23 tons of cocaine confiscated in Portugal throughout 2024. Portugal is often a key entry point for drug shipments into Europe. Criminal networks have increasingly relied on semi-submersible vessels to smuggle cocaine while avoiding detection.
The vessel was stopped approximately 500 nautical miles south of the Azores archipelago, according to a statement from Portugal’s judicial police.
Crew Arrested, Authorities Release Footage
Five crew members were aboard the vessel, which was linked to an international drug trafficking ring. Police released video showing the narco sub packed with orange-wrapped packages and four suspects with their faces blurred.
The operation involved multiple agencies, including the Portuguese Navy and Air Force, along with international partners such as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the British National Crime Agency, and the Spanish Guardia Civil. Officials did not specify the exact date of the seizure.
Rising Use of Narco Subs in Drug Smuggling
Unlike true submarines, many “narco subs” cannot fully submerge, though some are capable of diving completely underwater. Most of the cocaine entering Portugal arrives by sea from Latin America, where these vessels are frequently used for smuggling.
While they are most commonly spotted off Colombia’s coast, narco subs have been intercepted worldwide in recent months.
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January: A narco sub broke apart while being towed by a fishing boat to a port in northwestern Spain.
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November: The Mexican Navy seized around 8,000 pounds of cocaine from a narco sub about 150 miles off Acapulco.
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September: The U.S. Coast Guard offloaded over $54 million worth of cocaine, including 1,200 pounds confiscated from a narco sub.
Authorities continue to crack down on these covert smuggling operations as drug traffickers develop new methods to evade law enforcement.
