# How do they catch drug-trafficking submarines? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 23, 2015, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-catch-drug-trafficking-submarines/725941 "2015-07-23T11:15:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-catch-drug-trafficking-submarines/725941/1 "2015-07-23T11:15:07Z")
I was discussing with coworkers the capture of a pocket submarine transporting drugs. And we are wondering how they cath such submarines in practice. I guess that coastguards or such can detect makeshift submarines, but how do they force them to surface or even contact them to order them to do so? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-catch-drug-trafficking-submarines/725941/2 "2015-07-23T11:47:02Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > And we are wondering how they cath such submarines in practice. I’m guessing 8 French. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-catch-drug-trafficking-submarines/725941/3 "2015-07-23T11:51:54Z")
From what I’ve read these subs are barely underwater and can’t dive more than a few feet. It shouldn’t be too difficult to force them to surface once found. I also believe that some are unmanned so there’s no need to contact them. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-catch-drug-trafficking-submarines/725941/4 "2015-07-23T12:02:41Z")
The ones I’ve heard of were towed by boats, and as mentioned above not far below the water’s surface. They are easily spotted by plane or a nearby boat. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-catch-drug-trafficking-submarines/725941/5 "2015-07-23T12:14:12Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’m guessing 8 French. Reported. Sorry, didn’t realize it was a General Question. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-catch-drug-trafficking-submarines/725941/6 "2015-07-23T12:51:06Z")
They show up fairly easily on sonar and have limited fuel and air reserves. All they have to do is follow them around until they surface. Kind of like the OJ Simpson car chase, only with boats. ---
**Author:** ![Toastmaker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Toastmaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toastmaker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-catch-drug-trafficking-submarines/725941/7 "2015-07-23T16:05:36Z")
Same way the US Navy (and CG) would detect Russian subs. . . submerged sonar and MAD (magnetic anomaly detection) stations. That is if the drug vehicle was capable of 40-50 foot depths, which I believe would be very unusual in a home-made submarine. ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-catch-drug-trafficking-submarines/725941/8 "2015-07-23T19:58:59Z")
The “submarines” aren’t submarines, they are just a boat that has a very small area exposed above the water. They use noisy diesel engines, etc. They are incredibly dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2015, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-catch-drug-trafficking-submarines/725941/9 "2015-07-23T21:50:25Z")
> [@Habeed](#): > > The “submarines” aren’t submarines, they are just a boat that has a very small area exposed above the water. They use noisy diesel engines, etc. They are incredibly dangerous. This was originally the case, but in the past few years [truly submersible crafts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narco-submarine)have started appearing. Again, they don’t submerge especially deep and often have to use a snorkel for some or most of the voyage. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2015, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-they-catch-drug-trafficking-submarines/725941/10 "2015-07-24T13:35:31Z")
Not a lot of details here, but the Coast Guard just intercepted a semi-submersible. The release says it was tracked by aircraft and the Coast Guard closed in when a speedboat started approaching it. Seven tons of cocaine were seized. [http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/2015-07-22-000000/cbp-oam-interagency-partners-interdict-semi](http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/2015-07-22-000000/cbp-oam-interagency-partners-interdict-semi)