THE TENSION: Combat Camera: Drug Sub Busted by Coast Guard, Navy, Customs and Border Protection

Semi-submersible Vessel
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A number of news outlets report a submarine carrying cocaine worth an estimated 352 million dollars was intercepted by U.S. authorities off the coast of Central America, officials said Wednesday

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the semi-submersible vessel -- which is only partially visible from the surface -- was spotted by a P-3C Orion surveillance plane some 300 miles (482 kilometers) southwest of the Mexico-Guatemala border on Monday.

The plane then guided the USS Dewert (USS De Wert) to the scene as the four suspected drug smugglers scuttled the vessel along with the bulk of its cargo, believed to be around five metric tons (5,000 kilograms) of cocaine.

The suspects and 11 bales of cocaine weighing around 1,210 pounds (548 kilos) were eventually recovered from the scene

U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Michael Friel said that cases of smugglers using semi-submersible craft were rare.

PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 19, 2007) - Coordination between U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection, and crews from a U.S. Navy P-3C Orion and the frigate USS Dewert (FFG 45), resulted in the seizure of an estimated $352 million of cocaine during an interdicted and boarding operation on a self-propelled semi-submersible vessel in the Eastern Pacific, Sunday, Aug 19. Photo courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection (RELEASED)

Washington, Aug. 22, 2007 (CBP-HQ) -- A Jacksonville, Fla.-based U.S. Customs and Border Protection P-3 Orion aircraft participated in an operation 7 p.m. Sunday in the Eastern Pacific Ocean that resulted in an approximately 5 metric ton cocaine seizure. CBP’s surveillance aircraft tracked the semi-submerged smuggling vessel designed to avoid detection.

Working with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard, CBP’s Air and Marine crew located, tracked and coordinated the interdiction of a self-propelled, semi-submersible vessel loaded with an estimated $352 million of cocaine. Additionally, four suspected smugglers were taken into custody.

As part of ongoing western hemisphere tracking operations, CBP Air and Marine’s P-3 aircraft was patrolling in the Eastern Pacific when the crew spotted the submersible vessel.

The P-3 aircraft then guided a U.S. Navy ship to the scene as the suspects scuttled the vessel along with the majority of the contraband aboard. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment personnel made the arrests and seized 11 cocaine bales (1,210 pounds).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Air and Marine operates a P-3 aircraft fleet from Corpus Christi, Texas and Jacksonville that provides Transit Zone surveillance operations. The P-3 Operations Center-Jacksonville, based at Cecil Field, has coordinated more than 32 metric tons of cocaine interdictions this fiscal year worth $ 2.2 billion.

CBP’s Office of Air and Marine operates aircraft and vessels throughout the nation and the western hemisphere to help secure the United States borders. Its fleet includes P-3 Orion long-range surveillance and patrol aircraft supporting hemispheric interdiction operations. These airplanes, and their crews, operate throughout the United States, Central and South America prosecuting any threats to United States and it citizens.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control, and protection of our Nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

(From a Coast Guard press release.)

Media sources: AFP on Yahoo News, Fox News, CNN, ABC News.