DEEP in the South American jungle, cartels are building self-detonating narco subs to flood European markets with cocaine.



The world’s most vicious gangs are evolving with new tactics and technology to expand their bloodthirsty empire across the world.


Members of the Colombian Navy stand guard on top of a seized submarine built by drug smugglers Credit: Reuters

AI Narco subs are an emerging threat for European security as cartels look to expand their empire Credit: EUROATLAS


And their latest project is advancing at a terrifying pace – with experts warning that the lethal unmanned vessels could be roaming European waters in just two years.



Last week, a Colombian navy report estimated cartel Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) could cross the Atlantic and the Pacific by 2035.


			
							
											
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But undersea defence expert Verineia Codrean told The Sun these deadly vessels will be ready for deployment much sooner – in as little as two years.



Verineia said: “We already know criminal groups have built crewless vessels using commercially available autopilots and satellite communications. 
		

		

A Narco sub being intercepted by the Spanish coast guard off the coast of Galicia Credit: Dan Charity

Royal Navy patrol ship HMS Trent seizes cocaine from a narco-sub in the Caribbean Sea Credit: Royal Navy


“The next steps are greater range, more reliable navigation and progressively less dependence on instructions from an operator.”



In July 2025, the Colombian navy announced it had seized the world’s first documented “autonomous semisubmersible”.



The ship, with a 1.5-tonne cargo capacity, operated with two Starlink antennas and an autopilot feature.



Two surveillance cameras were also installed: one on the bow, providing a real-time view of the craft’s trajectory and obstacles, and another inside to monitor the engine and transmission.

		
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There were no drugs on board this time, but most notably, there was no crew.



Officials believe the uncrewed sub seized last year was on a trial run to the US or Europe.



It is understood to have been operated by Colombia‘s largest and most notorious drug trafficking group, the Gulf clan.



This was “not a warning of a future risk, but rather confirmation of a process”, the navy report said.


Farmer Miguel Mangos processes coca leaves to make cocaine base paste in Colombia Credit: AFP

Cartels are expanding their bloodthirsty empire across the world with new tactics Credit: x.com/@blogdelosguachs


Given the challenges of detecting these vessels, it is possible drug-laden AUVs are already in regular operation.



Mexican cartels operating in Colombia have been quietly hiring specialised tech experts and engineers to help develop these ghost subs as far back as 2017.



Verineia is the chief strategy and partnerships officer at defence tech company Euroatlas – the makers of the world’s longest-endurance autonomous underwater vehicle, Greyshark.



She said: “A sophisticated vessel does not need every component to be designed for military use.



“The first crewless narco sub intercepted by the Colombian Navy used civilian technology.



“Marine engines, batteries, navigation systems, communications equipment and composite materials are all available on the civilian market.”



AI has drastically lowered the cost of systems that, a decade ago, were exclusive to the military.



Verineia said: “Criminal groups are not trying to build a military submarine capable of performing multiple missions over decades of service. 


Cocaine that’s seized by customs disguised inside fruit trying to enter the Galacian coast by shipping containers Credit: Dan Charity

Spanish Customs officials ‘floating’ a the Narco sub they discovered near Vigo, before the smugglers could sink it Credit: Dan Charity


“They need a vessel that can transport a high-value cargo from A to B with a sufficiently low probability of detection.



“Portugal is particularly relevant. The Colombian navy has estimated the first AUV-1G Atlantic crossing will deliver its cargo near the Portuguese coast.”



It comes as Colombia – the world’s leading cocaine producer – faces record-high production of the drug, fuelled by surging global demand.



The country’s estimated coca leaf cultivation increased from 204,000 to 253,000 hectares – 504,000 to 625,000 acres – in 2023, according to the United Nations.



The Colombian navy said that in the first half of 2025, 10 narco subs were detected in different regions of the continent.



All had been adapted to make them difficult to track by radar – and even mobilise with partial autonomy.



The navy has warned that autonomous technologies are “an emerging threat that is transforming the transnational criminal landscape”.



By eliminating the crew, AUVs free up more space for cargo and remove the risk of human capture, extradition, and informing.


Colombia is the world’s leading Cocaine producer – responsible for about 70 per cent of what’s sold across the globe Credit: AFP

Members of the Colombian anti-narcotics battle made an operation to locate and destroy an elaborate cocaine farm in 2000 Credit: AFP


They scale cheaply, and challenge detection systems built for a world where someone was always on board.



Verineia said: “The fundamental problem is persistence. These vessels are deliberately designed to minimise their visual, radar and electromagnetic signatures, while operating across enormous maritime areas.



“Detecting something once is difficult, maintaining sufficient surveillance to find, classify and then track a low-signature vessel over a long route is much harder.”



At the same time, interception also becomes more dangerous.



The Colombian navy said submarines could be fitted with explosive cargo and remotely activated self-destruction systems.



To combat the risk, security forces have suggested using unmanned assets themselves during initial contact with an unknown AUV.



“That keeps sailors and coastguard personnel away from the vessel until the threat is better understood,” Verineia said.



While most cocaine is still smuggled on container ships, narco subs are playing a growing role especially for long-haul routes.



The Colombian navy predicts cartels could programme these vessels with a destination and mission, using AI to analyse patrol patterns, detect threats, and choose the safest route without human input. 



An estimated 25 million people use cocaine worldwide, according to the United Nations, and around 22 per cent of them are in Europe.



Cocaine production has reached an all-time high to meet the growing demand.



Since 2024 the drug has overtaken oil as Colombia’s single biggest export making the country responsible for about 70 per cent of what’s sold across the globe.



It is also the main hub of illicit naval engineering for long-range ocean missions, the Navy said.



And a history of bloody civil war has spawned armed militias which are now keen to facilitate a drugs trade worth some $15billion.



Colombia is well positioned to profit from cocaine – sharing land borders with five countries, and with maritime access to the Pacific, Atlantic and Caribbean.



And its cartels have begun to form alliances with neighbouring drug lords to smuggle it across the Atlantic.



The Colombian cartels supply the drugs and naval construction while the Mexicans provide financing and delivery logistics into Europe.



A report published by Europol earlier this year confirmed that cocaine trafficking into Europe continues to expand and diversify.



Governments around the world are now recalibrating their playbooks to meet this shifting threat.



In October 2025, the Pentagon announced an expanded Caribbean counter-narcotics task force.



The team included AI-enhanced ISR feeds, drones, and naval assets to anticipate unmanned maritime traffic patterns.

	

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