We have found the first narcosubmarino with Starlink. It is a new step in drug logistics

The drug trafficking industry It has an important challenge that does not go through producing the drug, but to distribute it. Of conventional networks infiltrating the product in commercial vehicles or using ‘mules‘, the drug traffickers have controlled huge fleets of submarines. These craft vehicles baptized as ‘Narcosubmarino’ have experienced a boom In recent years, and the striking thing is that they are updating in terms of technology.

So much that a narcosubmarino without a crew that is controlled at a distance, thanks to StarlinkElon Musk’s satellite Internet network. And, obviously, it is a new headache for Maritime authorities.

Short. It was a few days ago when Colombia’s Navy reported On a strange finding that made the first week of April: a narcosubmarino ‘stuck’ to a boat that had the capacity to transport ton and average drug. Neither by size nor by capacity was a ship that caught attention, since in recent years the capacity of this type of boats has increased to transport more drugs. What was striking was the antenna in the front.

In that area He was A Starlink antenna, Elon Musk’s Internet service for which every time More satellites are displayed To increase global coverage, and we can imagine the usefulness of such a system in the operations that a narcosubmarino can perform.

Advanced remote control. No crew was found, so it is speculated that this connection with Starlink would allow new generation drug traffickers operate semi -autonomous. That is, someone on land would perform the functions of remote controller, assuming a huge advantage if the authorities intercept the ship because they would be carried out with the cargo, yes, but not with human operators.

Now, apart from logistics advantage and facilities when navigating any type of water thanks to that global satellite connection, the authorities estimate that this technology represents a major challenge for anti -drug forces because it will make them more difficult to track. Narcosubmarine are not real submarines in many cases, but semi -submersible that can escape the ‘vision’ of radars, and without humans inside, they can also go more unnoticed to tracking systems.

In addition to the Starlink system, the ship has two cameras, an internal to monitor both the transmission and the engine and an external one for the vision of the trajectory and that the operator can avoid obstacles.

Of all sizes. Having caught a narcosubmarino for remote control thanks to Starlink supposes One more step in the drug trafficking network and demonstrates how their vehicles are adapting thanks to the latest technology in order to be more efficient. Because the one seized by the Colombian Navy was empty and estimate that it was a proof unit, but that there is already something like that, surely, it implies that there is more on their way.

Because if something is clear, they are investing in the construction of these ships. It is estimated that, in 2009 there were about eight vehicles of this style, a figure that reached the 180 estimated in 2020. Obviously, there are many gray in all this because they are estimates.

World Network. Many of those narcosubmarinos are usually precarious ships with a short useful life, but also There are more sophisticated And in recent years we have seen semi -submersible Greater and sophisticatedsome reaching 30 meters long with designs very, very similar to the submarines used by world armies.

In fact, a few months ago Colombia’s Navy intercepted A ship that had the Australian or Neozelands coasts as an objective, implying that there is no country that escapes Colombian drug trafficking networks, consolidated as the heart of cocaine world imposing increase in production These last years.

As much as it may be, and although it has only been a test, that a narcosubmarino has already caught with Starlink assumes that the drug traffickers are already ‘Armando’ with vehicles capable of operating remotely, even in areas to which the traditional coverage does not reach, with all that it implies. And compared to the first vehicles in the early 90s, It is a huge step and a great challenge for the authorities.

Image | Wikideas1

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