New THREAT at Sea—STAR-LINK Narco Sub

Discovery of an unmanned ‘narco sub’ equipped with a Starlink antenna redefines drug trafficking on the high seas.

At a Glance

  • The Colombian Navy has captured the first-ever known unmanned “narco submarine” in the Caribbean Sea.
  • The vessel was equipped with a Starlink antenna, allowing it to be piloted remotely via satellite from anywhere in the world.
  • The drone submarine, owned by the powerful Gulf Clan cartel, is capable of transporting up to 1.5 tons of cocaine.
  • The discovery marks a significant and dangerous technological evolution in drug trafficking methods.

A New Era in Narco-Trafficking

In a chilling new development in the war on drugs, the Colombian Navy announced on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, that it had captured the first-ever unmanned narco submarine. The “drone sub” was seized in the Caribbean Sea as part of a U.S.-led international counter-narcotics mission.

The vessel’s most significant feature was a Starlink antenna, which provides reliable, high-speed satellite internet, allowing the semi-submersible to be piloted remotely from thousands of miles away. The discovery confirms that drug cartels are moving into the realm of sophisticated, unmanned, military-grade technology.

The Gulf Clan’s Drone Sub

The vessel is believed to be owned by the Gulf Clan (Clan del Golfo), Colombia’s largest and most powerful drug trafficking organization. According to a report from CBS News, the low-profile vessel was empty when it was captured and was likely undergoing sea trials.

It is designed to travel just at the waterline, making it extremely difficult for radar and patrol planes to detect. Authorities estimate the drone submarine has the capacity to carry up to 1.5 tons of cocaine on a single journey.

An “Evolution” in Smuggling Capabilities

Colombian Navy officials have described the discovery as a major and concerning technological leap for the cartels. “This demonstrates an evolution in the logistical capabilities of drug trafficking, which seeks to surpass traditional approaches through innovation and highly adaptive means,” Admiral Juan Ricardo Rozo said in a statement.

As naval analyst H.I. Sutton explained to Naval News, the move to unmanned systems removes the risk of a crew being captured or killed. However, it also introduces new challenges for the traffickers. “The challenge for the narcotics smugglers will be keeping the engine running,” Sutton noted. “There is no crew aboard to fix it if it breaks down.”
The discovery of this new technology will force the U.S. and its international partners to develop new and more sophisticated strategies to detect and intercept these unmanned threats as they move through the open ocean.

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