By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The Colombian navy recently seized an unmanned “narco sub” equipped with a Starlink antenna off its Caribbean coast, believed to be a test run by a major cocaine trafficking cartel, which has the capacity to transport 1.5 tons of cocaine. This is not the first instance of Starlink usage by drug traffickers; in November, Indian police seized a meth consignment in a remote-controlled vessel utilizing Starlink. The rise of autonomous subs, described as hard-to-detect and operated with autonomy, reflects a shift towards more sophisticated unmanned systems. The absence of a crew also removes the risk of captured operators cooperating with authorities and makes it difficult to identify the drug lords behind the shipments.
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Drone “narco sub” – equipped with a Starlink antenna – seized for the first time in the Caribbean. That’s a headline that grabs you, doesn’t it? And the details are wild. You have this submersible, presumably designed to evade detection, and it’s packing a Starlink antenna for high-speed internet. Honestly, the irony is almost too much to handle. These guys are using cutting-edge technology, including technology for the most elite internet, for smuggling drugs into the US. One has to wonder if they have better internet than the average person! The level of innovation is, frankly, impressive, even if it’s being put to incredibly destructive and illegal use.
The fact that Starlink is involved is what adds another layer of intrigue to this already fascinating story. The potential for drug cartels to use Starlink’s satellite internet to communicate securely, coordinate operations, and navigate their clandestine vessels is a game-changer. It’s like the cartels are using tech in the same way a modern business would. It’s worth noting the article seems to indicate this particular vessel was undergoing a test run and wasn’t actually carrying any drugs at the time of the seizure. It seems like the Gulf Clan, the group allegedly behind the operation, was using this as an opportunity to test out its stealth technology. But, as the saying goes, you don’t beta test your drug-smuggling submarine in plain sight.
There’s definitely some interesting discussion to be had about the ethics of Starlink’s role in this situation. News reports have cited Starlink being used by militias fighting in India, illegal loggers in Brazil, and even gangs that use slaves to commit online fraud. You have to wonder if Starlink knows exactly where its transceivers are located. The satellites track everything, so wouldn’t it follow that there’s an open data feed to US intelligence agencies? It’s like a virtual trail, even if the physical vessel itself tries to stay under the radar. With all these reports, you also have to wonder if there’s any protection money being squeezed out of those who are in illegal operations using Starlink.
Let’s talk about the operational aspects of the “narco sub”. The low-profile design of the boat is clearly aimed at staying undetected. But it makes you wonder how they even managed to use a Starlink antenna without giving themselves away. Starlink antennas beam a laser directly into space, making their locations easy to track. It’s tough to imagine these drug smugglers thought they could slip through the cracks. The whole thing is almost comical: an advanced piece of technology revealing the position of another advanced piece of technology. The potential for monitoring this, with dedicated teams and satellite imaging, is definitely there.
The fact that this seizure is a “first time” event is telling. It suggests a new evolution in the cartels’ tactics, a move towards more sophisticated technology. Is this just the beginning? Will we see more of these drone submarines popping up? Or perhaps this seizure sends a message and makes the cartels rethink their strategies, perhaps giving them a reason to switch their means of communications. One would also imagine that the government might be in a better position to take action.
It’s not hard to see the connection between the technology itself and the illegal activities it facilitates. The potential for this technology to be used for illicit purposes is evident, just like any technology. It’s a reflection of the world we live in: advancements in technology often go hand-in-hand with advancements in crime. It brings up questions about how to use existing technology and tools to improve these efforts, or the potential lack thereof.
And, let’s not forget the bigger picture here: the war on drugs. It sparks a lot of debate: how much of the resources put into stopping these operations could be put towards something else? It calls into question the existing systems and structures that allow things like this to happen. And as the technology advances, so does the battle.