Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The US Drug Enforcement Administration said it helped Ecuador seize a submarine capable of transporting tons of cocaine.
DEA officials said that the diesel electric-powered submarine was built in a remote jungle and captured near a river close to the Ecuador-Colombia border.
Ecuadorean authorities seized the sub before it could make its maiden voyage.
The sophisticated camouflaged vessel has a conning tower, periscope and air-conditioning system.
It measured about nine feet high from the deck plates to the ceiling and stretched nearly a 100 feet long.
The DEA said it was built for trans-oceanic drug trafficking.
One person was taken into custody. DEA Andean Regional Director Jay Bergman said the sub's nautical and payload capacity is a serious development.
Colombia's drug cartels have been known to use home-built submarines to smuggle large amounts of cocaine past US and Colombian patrol boats to Central America en route to the United States.
Colombian authorities discovered these vessels from time to time in recent years.
In August 2007, US forces intercepted a submarine-like vessel packed with tons of cocaine off the coast of Guatemala.
And in July 2008, Mexico's navy seized a homemade submarine carrying a drug shipment off the Pacific coast.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments