Colombian Navy Seizes Starlink-Equipped Drug Submarine in Historic First

The Colombian Navy has intercepted an unmanned, Starlink-equipped semi-submersible watercraft believed to be used by drug traffickers, marking the first seizure of its kind in Colombian waters.

Naval officials said the vessel was found off the coast of Santa Marta, along Colombia’s Caribbean shoreline. While no drugs were recovered on board, authorities suspect the sub was undergoing a test run for the Gulf Clan—Colombia’s most powerful drug cartel. The autonomous craft had the capacity to carry up to 1.5 tons of cocaine, according to Agence France-Presse.

“This is the first time we’ve intercepted an unmanned semi-submersible craft of this type in our maritime territory,” Colombian naval officials said. The vessel was reportedly outfitted with a Starlink satellite communication system, allowing remote navigation far from shore.

The discovery adds to growing concerns about traffickers adopting advanced technology to evade detection. Officials say 10 similar submersible or semi-submersible vehicles have been identified in South American waters so far in 2025.

Under Colombian law, the construction, sale, use, or transport of such watercraft is illegal and carries a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

Colombia remains the world’s largest source of cocaine, and traffickers frequently use small, stealthy maritime vessels to smuggle drugs across international waters—often toward Central America and the U.S. coastline. Authorities believe the latest interception signals a shift toward increasingly automated and tech-driven smuggling operations.