U.S. Navy seizes cocaine-laden sub off Costa Rica
- Share via
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA — A Costa Rican official says U.S. authorities have intercepted a submarine-like vessel packed with tons of cocaine.
Security Minister Janina del Vecchio said in a statement Tuesday that the 70-foot (20-meter) vessel was intercepted by the U.S. Navy in international waters near Costa Rica.
Del Vecchio said the vessel was transporting an estimated 6 metric tons (6.6 U.S. tons) of cocaine.
She said U.S. authorities would tow it to a Costa Rican port and then to Key West, Florida.
Colombian drug cartels have been known to use home-built submarines to smuggle large amounts of cocaine to Central America en route to the United States.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
