Recently, a released video showed crew members of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro who came across a SPSS, or self-propelled, semi-submersible vessel, they suspected of carrying illegal drugs.
Photo Credit: Twitter, @USCG
The event happened on July 18 somewhere in the international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, “Purpose-build smuggling vessels like SPSSs [self-propelled, semi-submersibles] are designed to hold large quantities of contraband while evading detection by law enforcement authorities.”
In the video, the Guardsmen pursue the sub and shout at the occupants to stop. While the sub was still in motion, they dive on it. The first crewman to have jumped atop the sub bangs on the hatch and gets someone inside to open it.
Photo Credit: Twitter, @USCG
The Coast Guard also reported the Munro offloaded 39,000 plus pounds of cocaine seized from smugglers in the Eastern Pacific Ocean from 14 different drug smuggling vessels during a three month deployment off the coasts of Mexico and Central and South America. The seizures also yielded more than 933 pounds of marijuana. The combined worth of the drugs was a whopping $569 million.
In this specific (and very unusual) sub raid, the crewman recovered more than 17,000 pounds of cocaine worth approximately $232 million.
Check out the video below:
The brave efforts of the Munro’s crew and the crews of other cutters involved will lead to the prosecution of 55 alleged illegal drug smugglers.
The Coast Guard’s dedication to waging an effective war against drug cartels helps keep dangerous and deadly narcotics off the streets and will no doubt save countless lives.
