With an investment of less than 100,000 pesos, a criminal organization can build a basic navigation system capable of operating an autonomous semi-submersible for cocaine transport. This vessel can be remotely controlled via satellite connection, with the addition of a Starlink antenna, without the need for a crew on board.
This type of technology, far from being for military use, is comprised of commercially available equipment found on open e-commerce platforms.
According to specialized analyses by the Colombian Navy, these narco-submarines or semi-submersibles, used for drug trafficking to North America, operate with technological tools easily acquired from sites like Amazon and other platforms specializing in the sale of navigation equipment for boats and sailboats.
For example, the Naval Supply website offers the NAC-3 autopilot package, a navigation computer capable of controlling a vessel’s rudder with high precision. The system includes a compass and a sensor that reports the rudder’s position in real time. This kit costs 57,990 Mexican pesos and is the most expensive component in the manufacture of an autopilot for an unmanned semi-submersible.
Another key element is the GPS navigator, which ranges in price from 4,689 to 17,590 pesos on platforms like Amazon. The navigation system is complemented by at least three Starlink antennas, costing an average of 12,000 pesos each, which are necessary to maintain a stable internet connection.
