drug smuggling via submarine

[sonicboom]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/09/19/drug.subs/index.html

Are Navy aircraft ever launched to smoke these guys out of the water?

Cocaine smugglers turn to submarines, feds say


U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and Drug Enforcement Administration officials say South American drug cartels are turning to semi-submersible vessels, which have a low profile to avoid detection, because of the government's success at thwarting other smuggling techniques, including the use of fishing trawlers and speed boats.

 

[HercDriver]

Nope. A surface asset usually tries to come along side or aboard and get the smugglers off the vessel before they scuttle it (you want the evidence to prosecute).

 

[picklesuit]

Unless you can drop an SSQ-110 in the periscope...

 

[HeyJoe]

Too soon to retire S-3B Vikings?

Nope. A surface asset usually tries to come along side or aboard and get the smugglers off the vessel before they scuttle it (you want the evidence to prosecute).

Sometimes they don't succeed (the scuttle part, that is)

The guided-missile frigate USS McInerney (FFG 8) tows a self-propelled, semi-submersible craft seized Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008 by Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 404. US Navy photo

Members of U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment 404 survey the deck of the self-propelled, semi-submersible craft seized on 13 Sept. US Navy photo

Some of the 37 bales of cocaine are seen in one of the compartments of a self-propelled, semi-submersible vessel interdicted at sea Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008, by the guided-missile frigate USS McInerney (FFG 8). Members of U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment 404, embarked aboard the McInerney, seized the estimated $187 million worth of cocaine during a night raid about 350 miles west of Guatemala. The seized vessel has the capability to travel from Ecuador to San Diego, Calif. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Nico Figueroa/Released)

Coordination between U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection, and crews from a U.S. Navy P-3C Orion and the frigate USS Dewert (FFG 45), resulted in the seizure of an estimated $352 million of cocaine during an interdicted and boarding operation on a self-propelled semi-submersible vessel in the Eastern Pacific, Sunday, Aug 19. Photo courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection (RELEASED)

 

[Single Seat]

That's alotta blow

 

[HeyJoe]

That's alotta blow

Just add hookers....

 

[PropStop]

Looks like a great rockeye target!

 

[BACONATOR]

Maybe I'm just talking out of my ass again, but I thought I'd heard that Coast Guard snipers or something are on some Navy helos to intercept drug boats and the like. Complete fallacy?

 

[zippy]

I've watched a coast guard helo open fire on a drug boat before... not to sink it, but to disable its engines so it could be boarded.

 

[BACONATOR]

I've watched a coast guard helo open fire on a drug boat before... not to sink it, but to disable its engines so it could be boarded.

Right. Just to clarify, this is what I'd heard and meant to convey. Not that Coast Guard guys were sniping people or anything.

That's awesome.

 

[Gatordev]

Maybe I'm just talking out of my ass again, but I thought I'd heard that Coast Guard snipers or something are on some Navy helos to intercept drug boats and the like. Complete fallacy?

It's called "AUF," and yes, it's done now. There are limits to how they can be utilized, but a Barret tends to get the point across.

I've watched a coast guard helo open fire on a drug boat before... not to sink it, but to disable its engines so it could be boarded.

The CG started with this and now the Navy is allowed to play.

 

[PropAddict]

The CG started with this and now the Navy is allowed to play.

That sounds pretty sweet. Or, at least it sounds like a step up from the stories my old CO used to tell about doing drug interdiction and having to try to stop the boats using the rotorwash from the helo, b/c they weren't allowed to shoot.

 

[Gatordev]

That sounds pretty sweet. Or, at least it sounds like a step up from the stories my old CO used to tell about doing drug interdiction and having to try to stop the boats using the rotorwash from the helo, b/c they weren't allowed to shoot.

It's a heck of a lot of fun, though...

 

[PropAddict]

It's a heck of a lot of fun, though...

I looked at that picture and the theme song from Miami Vice started playing in my head. For some reason. . .

 

[Mumbles]

I looked at that picture and the theme song from Miami Vice started playing in my head. For some reason. . .

me too!