In a significant operation, the Colombian Navy recently seized a semi-submersible vessel filled with cocaine, believed to be part of a new illicit maritime route to Australia. With heightened demand and substantial profits from the Australian cocaine market, this interception signals the adaptation of drug trafficking methods.
Colombian Navy Disrupts New Cocaine Smuggling Route to Australia
Colombian Navy Disrupts New Cocaine Smuggling Route to Australia
The Colombian Navy has intercepted a semi-submersible vessel configured for drug trafficking, unveiling emerging routes connecting South America to Australia.
The Colombian navy has successfully intercepted a semi-submersible vessel laden with cocaine in the Pacific, shedding light on a newly emerged smuggling route to Australia. Authorities reported that the vessel was equipped with sufficient fuel for the long journey, indicating robust planning by trafficking networks. Historically, these semi-submersibles have been used predominantly for transporting drugs to Europe; however, this new route reveals a shift in focus towards the Australian market.
Market analysis suggests that cocaine trafficking from South America to Australia is particularly advantageous, with the potential price of a kilogram reaching up to $240,000 (£190,000)—a stark contrast to the $40,000 it could command in the United States, as noted by Colombian security agencies. This price differential exemplifies the lucrative nature of the Australian drug market which, according to the OECD, has the highest per capita cocaine use globally, followed closely by the UK.
The recent interception occurred approximately 1,200 miles southwest of Clipperton Island, identified as a home base for unsanctioned nautical activities. Investigators believe the semi-submersible originated from Tumaco, a Colombian port known for drug shipments. Colombian Vice-Admiral Orlando Enrique Grisales highlighted that the seizure marked the third such vessel intercepted in this region, implying that drug trafficking organizations may have formalized a direct maritime route to Australia.
“The vessel's navigational maps revealed its intended destination,” Grisales stated during a press briefing. This intelligence also led to increased collaboration with Australian law enforcement. The operation was part of "Orion," a multinational effort that resulted in the confiscation of 225 tonnes of cocaine over six weeks and the arrest of over 400 suspects from various countries.
Vice-Admiral Grisales remarked on the evident connections between organized crime syndicates in South America and those in Oceania, suggesting a coordinated effort to streamline drug distribution networks. Acknowledging the navy's achievements in this operation, Colombian President Gustavo Petro commended the efforts in disrupting international drug trafficking operations, emphasizing the new challenges posed by evolving smuggling routes.
Market analysis suggests that cocaine trafficking from South America to Australia is particularly advantageous, with the potential price of a kilogram reaching up to $240,000 (£190,000)—a stark contrast to the $40,000 it could command in the United States, as noted by Colombian security agencies. This price differential exemplifies the lucrative nature of the Australian drug market which, according to the OECD, has the highest per capita cocaine use globally, followed closely by the UK.
The recent interception occurred approximately 1,200 miles southwest of Clipperton Island, identified as a home base for unsanctioned nautical activities. Investigators believe the semi-submersible originated from Tumaco, a Colombian port known for drug shipments. Colombian Vice-Admiral Orlando Enrique Grisales highlighted that the seizure marked the third such vessel intercepted in this region, implying that drug trafficking organizations may have formalized a direct maritime route to Australia.
“The vessel's navigational maps revealed its intended destination,” Grisales stated during a press briefing. This intelligence also led to increased collaboration with Australian law enforcement. The operation was part of "Orion," a multinational effort that resulted in the confiscation of 225 tonnes of cocaine over six weeks and the arrest of over 400 suspects from various countries.
Vice-Admiral Grisales remarked on the evident connections between organized crime syndicates in South America and those in Oceania, suggesting a coordinated effort to streamline drug distribution networks. Acknowledging the navy's achievements in this operation, Colombian President Gustavo Petro commended the efforts in disrupting international drug trafficking operations, emphasizing the new challenges posed by evolving smuggling routes.
