Mexican Cartels Use Semi-Submersibles to Flood Yucatán with Drugs

Quintana Roo, Mexico — The arrival of semi-submersible vessels along the coast of Quintana Roo has become a frequent occurrence, with an estimated two to three arriving weekly, according to intelligence reports from international security agencies. The protection provided to these drug-laden vessels has enriched their enablers within the political class and strengthened Mexico’s most powerful cartels, further destabilizing the region.

A Growing Threat Along the Coast

These rudimentary “submarines” typically depart from Cartagena, Colombia, and travel to states on the Yucatán Peninsula. So far this year, the Mexican Navy has seized at least two drug-transporting vessels in the Pacific, yet despite warnings from international agencies, authorities have not acknowledged the operation of narco semi-submersibles in the Yucatán Peninsula.

Intelligence reports indicate that drug shipments are increasingly landing along Quintana Roo’s coastline, from Xcalak to Cancún, including the island of Cozumel. These deliveries often result in lost drug packages during transfers, with semi-submersibles carrying over 3.5 tons of cocaine per trip.

Cartel Operations and Political Complicity

Investigations confirm that losses occur during transfers from semi-submersibles to speedboats, which then transport the drugs to shore, where criminal logistics teams retrieve them. Quintana Roo has been identified by military and National Investigations Institute (INI) agencies as one of the primary territories used by cartels for drug trafficking operations along Mexico’s eastern coast.

These semi-submersibles, transporting an average of 3.5 tons of cocaine per voyage, operate between Colombian ports on the Atlantic coast and the Mexican Caribbean. Criminal cells linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Caborca Cartel are behind these operations, competing for control of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, where municipal authorities allegedly provide safe havens for drug storage before distribution northward through Yucatán towns with weak law enforcement or complicit officials.

International Drug Routes and Enforcement Challenges

A study by the security research center Insight Crime identifies Quintana Roo’s coast as a key reception point for South American drugs originating from Colombian ports, with stops in the Dominican Republic and Central American ports, particularly in Honduras.

In the Atlantic, narco-submarines also appear destined for Central America and southern Mexico. U.S. court documents reveal that the Honduran Montes Bobadilla clan received drug shipments from Colombia via narco-submarines. Members of the group remain at large, but the 2024 discovery of extensive canals along Honduras’ Caribbean coast leading to properties linked to the clan suggests ongoing maritime operations.

“Primary routes originate in South American drug-producing countries and pass through international waters, where most vessels are intercepted,” the study states. It specifies that maritime drug shipments to Mexico occur via speedboats, yachts, sailboats, and submarines, with drugs traveling through the Caribbean to Yucatán and Quintana Roo.

The first route begins in Cartagena, Colombia, and ends in Cancún, Quintana Roo, operated by the CJNG alongside Colombia’s Gulf Clan and the Caborca Cartel. From Tumaco or Buenaventura, Colombia, shipments reach Mexico in up to 20 days, covering 2,200 nautical miles (approximately 3,504.57 kilometers).

The Colombian International Maritime Counter-Narcotics Analysis Center (Cimcon) notes that Mexico’s strategic geography makes it indispensable for transnational criminal organizations.

Navy Seizures and Evolving Tactics

The Mexican Navy has seized two semi-submersibles this year, both in the Pacific. These vessels contained cocaine, revealing criminal networks, geolocated routes, and floating platforms used by traffickers.

Coordinated efforts between Naval Intelligence and the Navy’s Command and Control Center have led to significant drug seizures from these sophisticated vessels, designed to evade maritime surveillance.

During the current administration, maritime surveillance operations have dealt severe blows to criminal organizations, seizing two semi-submersibles in separate operations. The first seizure occurred on October 17, 2024, after detecting a semi-submersible entering national waters weeks earlier. The vessel carried 3.5 kilograms of cocaine, and its tracking uncovered a clandestine support network, including floating fuel platforms and geolocated maritime routes connecting strategic points along Mexico’s Pacific coast.

A second successful operation took place on June 26, 2025, off Guerrero’s coast, intercepting another semi-submersible with 3.5 tons of cocaine. The haul, valued at over 846 million pesos on the illicit market, prevented more than seven million doses from reaching the streets.

Advanced Narco-Submarine Technology

These cases reflect the evolving methods of drug trafficking organizations. Over the past decade, the Navy has observed increased use of semi-submersibles and “Go Fast” speedboats, posing growing challenges for security forces.

Handcrafted in South American jungles, primarily Colombia, semi-submersibles are designed to evade radar and aerial patrols. Constructed with fiberglass, they measure between 10 and 25 meters long, reach speeds up to 27 km/h, and carry up to three tons of cocaine. Despite their rudimentary origins, many now feature advanced navigation technology, hidden compartments, and crews of two to four. In recent months, traffickers have even adapted Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite systems for more effective communication during transit.

Navy’s Counter-Narcotics Strategy

To combat this threat, the Navy has implemented an integrated strategy, deploying Spartan aircraft equipped with high-definition cameras, specialized radar, and infrared detection systems. International cooperation has also been strengthened to counter maritime drug trafficking.

In response, cartels have adapted tactics, painting semi-submersibles blue, green, gray, or black to blend with the sea and evade aerial detection. The escalating technological and transnational nature of this conflict underscores the complexity of maritime anti-narcotics efforts.

Despite these challenges, the Mexican Navy has achieved significant results through intelligence, surveillance, and coordination.