During the 1980s, fast, powerful go-fast boats became notorious as the drug smuggling vessel of choice in many parts of the world. Due to more effective radar coverage, Colombian drug cartels are now adapting to semi-submersible use.

The first time the U.S. Coast Guard found one, authorities dubbed it Bigfoot because they had heard rumors that such things existed, but nobody had actually seen one.[1] It was late 2006 when a Bigfoot was seized 145 kilometers (90 miles) southwest of Costa Rica carrying several tons of cocaine.[2] In 2006, American officials say they detected only three; now they are spotting an average of ten per month, but only one out of ten is seized, as their crew scuttle them upon interception.[3][4]

When semi-submersibles have been stopped at sea, their crew usually scuttle them, sending boat and cocaine to the bottom. With no evidence of trafficking against them and in accordance with maritime law, the crew must be rescued and, lacking of evidence of wrongdoing, released without criminal charges.

To address this legal loophole, the U.S. Congress worked with the U.S. Coast Guard and introduced a proposed bill on June 28, 2008 to make it illegal to be aboard an unflagged semi-submersible, regardless of seizure of narcotics inside their scuttled vessel. The Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008 was enacted in September 2008. The bill makes it a “felony for those who knowingly or intentionally operate or embark in a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) that is without nationality and that is or has navigated in international waters, with the intent to evade detection.”[30

dirty_bird: The Colombians and other drug smugglers are using submarines and semi-submersibles to run drugs from South America to Mexico.By semi-submersibles I mean custom made boats with the profile of an iceberg.Almost the whole profile is underwater but they are not water tight so they can’t dive.I can’t see that owning a private submarine in Panama would go unnoticed.

Whip:

dirty_bird:

I have wondered this myself as there is a documentary about Russian drug runners buying old dry docked Russian subs. I believe one of them actually lives in Miami. What do they do when it breaks down? I would guess they buy another one.

Maybe he bought the island to use as a model for this type of sub you mention.

The Columbians and Russians are in bed together……not that this should be a big surprise:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/russiagov/stories/mafia092997.htm

http://www.google.com/search?q=russian+drug+dealer+submarine&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

I wonder if ponzi boy was taking tips from these guys or had other intentions.

I can’t see that owning a private submarine in Panama would go unnoticed.

Whip:

dirty_bird:

I have wondered this myself as there is a documentary about Russian drug runners buying old dry docked Russian subs. I believe one of them actually lives in Miami. What do they do when it breaks down? I would guess they buy another one.

dirty_bird:

I have wondered this myself as there is a documentary about Russian drug runners buying old dry docked Russian subs. I believe one of them actually lives in Miami. What do they do when it breaks down? I would guess they buy another one.

The logistics of owning a submarine must be a nightmare.

Whip: I actually did one after reading this. My search terms were ’submarine’ and ‘price $10,000 to _____’. I found one and it was quite large and starting bid was $500,000.

Here it is:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Submarine_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem4a9c5af41eQQitemZ320450786334QQptZPowerQ5fM

That’s a good find. Makes me wonder about what price actually was paid for the purported Cook submarine. The sub in the eBay ad might be bigger than Cook’s ride, and the company on eBay does appear to have a smaller model.

Patrick

admin: Hi Lynn,

Lynndel Edgington: Hmmm, I wonder if it was yellow?

I did a quick scan of eBay listing last night to see if any other submarines were for sale. I did not see a listing, but I was pressed for time and only looked briefly.This was the first I’d heard about an alleged Ponzi pusher owning a sub, and I wondered if submarines would become the new “must have” vanity purchase.Too soon to tell, I guess.Regards,Patrick

I actually did one after reading this. My search terms were ’submarine’ and ‘price $10,000 to _____’. I found one and it was quite large and starting bid was $500,000.

Here it is:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Submarine_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem4a9c5af41eQQitemZ320450786334QQptZPowerQ5fMotorboats

Lynndel Edgington: Hmmm, I wonder if it was yellow?

I did a quick scan of eBay listing last night to see if any other submarines were for sale. I did not see a listing, but I was pressed for time and only looked briefly.

This was the first I’d heard about an alleged Ponzi pusher owning a sub, and I wondered if submarines would become the new “must have” vanity purchase.

Too soon to tell, I guess.

Regards,

Patrick