Narcosubmarine Found Off Galicia Coast in Drug Smuggling Operation
A narcosubmarine was discovered on Wednesday in the waters off Costa da Morte by a fishing vessel, sparking a complex operation involving specialized maritime rescue teams. The semi-submersible, approximately 20 meters long, was found adrift about one kilometer from the shore. While being towed to the port of Camariñas, the vessel broke into two sections, with the bow remaining afloat and the stern sinking due to its heavy engine.
The alert was raised by the fishing boat María Cristina, based in Laxe, which attempted to tow the vessel to land. Despite the challenges, rescue teams from the Guardia Civil and Salvamento Marítimo worked tirelessly to recover the submerged portions for inspection. Initial findings suggest the narcosubmarine shares design characteristics with other vessels linked to Colombian drug cartels, known for transporting cocaine to Galicia.
Cocaine Smuggling Tactics and Challenges
Authorities suspect the semi-submersible was abandoned after offloading a significant drug shipment, potentially exceeding 3,000 kilograms of cocaine. The vessel’s open hatch, likely intended to facilitate its sinking, aligns with tactics observed in previous smuggling attempts. Traces of tire marks on a nearby beach further suggest the involvement of local accomplices who transported the narcotics inland.
This is the fourth narcosubmarine intercepted in Galician waters since 2006, with three others successfully crossing the Atlantic. The most notable case occurred in 2019 when a vessel carrying three tons of cocaine and a crew of three was seized in Aldán, marking Europe’s first confirmed transatlantic narcosubmarine. Similar incidents were recorded in Vilagarcía de Arousa in 2023 and now in Camariñas, highlighting the persistent threat posed by maritime drug trafficking.
Escalating Operations in Galicia
January has seen heightened police activity in Galicia, with over two tons of cocaine confiscated in separate operations tied to Albanian traffickers under the Balkan Cartel’s control. This cartel is believed to oversee 80% of the cocaine entering Europe. Concurrently, an inspection of a container ship in the port of Vigo on suspicion of drug smuggling underscores the region’s strategic importance in international narcotics networks.
The Guardia Civil continues efforts to recover the sunken sections of the vessel, while investigations are underway to trace the origins and operators behind this latest attempt.
