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(U//FOUO) First-Ever Maritime Seizure of a Cocaine-Laden SelfPropelled Semi-Submersible
FROM:
S2F California
Run Date: 12/20/2006
(C//REL) Earlier this week SIDtoday brought you an article about a major success against drug
traffickers. Here's another success, with a twist -- the traffickers were using their own homegrown semi-submersible vessel!
(C//REL) On November 16, SANDKEY * intelligence led U.S. counterdrug forces to interdict a
self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) carrying over four metric tons of cocaine. U.S. Coast
Guard Cutter Steadfast found the SPSS approximately 90 nautical miles southwest of Costa Rica
near 0830N 08600W. The SPSS crew of two Colombians, a Guatemalan and a Sri Lankan are
being detained aboard Steadfast in lieu of arrest and will be transported to the United States for
prosecution.
(U) US Coast Guard personnel atop the Colombian-made semi-submersible
(C//REL) HUMINT reporting from the Panama Express (South) Strike Force as early as January
2006 indicated that drug trafficking organizations were building self-propelled semi-submersibles
along Colombia's west coast specifically to transport cocaine in the Eastern Pacific to
Guatemala/Mexico. Measuring from 45 to 70 feet in length, the submersibles are made of
fiberglass and covered with lead in an attempt to evade detection by U.S. technology. The
emergence of SPSS use for drug shipments was spurred by both an unacceptable loss of cocaine
by the traffickers during 2004 and 2005 to U.S. interdiction operations and the threat of the
implementation of a 2005 Colombian government mandate that all fishing vessels be outfitted
with commercial tracking devices.
(U) Inside the SPSS, bales of contraband can be seen on either side of the steering wheel.
(C//REL) While the success of the SANDKEY program rests with the collaborative efforts of all its
members, the outstanding performance of the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S)
Tactical Support Group (TSG) during this event is especially noteworthy.
(C//REL) On November 11, the TSG in Key West, through routine search of the radio
environment, discovered the primary frequency utilized by the participants in this operation.
TSG analysts assessed the activity early as a probable SPSS movement. Subsequent SANDKEY
reporting with direction finding and the drug traffickers' reliance on well-known codestrips
enabled TSG analysts to refine the location of the SPSS and its intended destination off the coast
of northern Costa Rica.
(C//REL) Pocket trash belonging to the Sri Lankan engineer may yield further exploitation
opportunities.
(C//REL) This historic, first-ever U.S. interdiction of a SPSS is directly attributable to the men
and women, who collect, report and analyze SANDKEY intelligence. This one seizure has
prevented 7,000 lbs of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $93 million, from reaching our
streets.
(U//FOUO) POC:
S2F California,
(U) Notes:
* The SANDKEY Community is a DoD/LEA (Law Enforcement Agencies) effort that collects and
reports on illicit trafficking communications that have no reasonable expectation of privacy
(unencrypted HF) to provide real-time intelligence on the locations and intentions of ships and
crews engaged in multi-ton movements of narcotics.
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
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DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108