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Cocaine Subs Reused as Prices Plummet
26 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Drug traffickers now reuse narco-submarines due to low cocaine prices.
- Previously, these custom vessels were sunk after one-way trips.
- Spain seized 123 tonnes of cocaine last year, an increase from prior years.
The decreasing value of cocaine is compelling drug traffickers to repurpose their custom-built narco-submarines. These semi-submersible vessels, once sunk after delivering cargo from South America to Europe, are now being reused due to economic pressures. The wholesale price of cocaine has fallen significantly, making the former practice of operating one-way trips and then scuttling the submarines financially unsustainable.
According to Spanish police, a refuelling platform is now established at sea, allowing these narco-subs to return to their origin countries for multiple journeys. This strategy aims to maximize the use of the expensive vessels. Spanish authorities have observed an increase in narco-sub activity, with 123 tonnes of cocaine seized last year, up from previous figures.
Beyond narco-subs, Spanish police are also confronting a surge in synthetic drug production. Over the past two years, more amphetamine, methamphetamine, and MDMA laboratories have been dismantled in Spain than in the preceding 18 years. This indicates a wider geographical spread of drug manufacturing operations across Europe.
