In case you ever wondered why someone would build a homemade submarine - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Kuan · #1 07-17-2008, 10:02 AM

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,384524,00.html

Quote:

HUATULCO, Mexico — Mexico's navy seized a homemade submarine carrying a drug shipment off the Pacific coast on Wednesday and arrested its four-man crew.

Similar vessels carrying cocaine have been discovered off Colombia and Central America, but navy spokesman Capt. Benjamin Mar said the seizure is a first for Mexico.

The 30-foot makeshift submarine was detected heading north about 200 miles off the southern state of Oaxaca, Mar said.

The green-topped, arrowhead-shaped vessel was intercepted when it surfaced hours later, and the crew was taken into custody without resistance.

The suspects were flown by helicopter to the city of Huatulco, where they told reporters they left the Colombian coastal town of Buenaventura a week ago.

The crew members said they were fishermen forced to make the journey by drug traffickers who threatened to harm their families.

"We didn't know what was on board because we never saw it. It was sealed," said one of the four, Jose Felix Enriquez.

The navy said in a statement that the sub was apparently packed with cocaine, but authorities were still determining how much was on board.

LUVMBDiesels · #2 07-17-2008, 10:13 AM

That is awesome... Imagine if they used those powers of ingenuity and craftmanship for good instead of for drug smuggling. Their country would be much better off.

I wonder how deep it could go. It looks like it has a glassed in conning tower and no periscope so I bet it just skimmed under the surface with the pilot's head above water.

Fulcrum525 · #3 07-17-2008, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

That is awesome... Imagine if they used those powers of ingenuity and craftmanship for good instead of for drug smuggling. Their country would be much better off.

I wonder how deep it could go. It looks like it has a glassed in conning tower and no periscope so I bet it just skimmed under the surface with the pilot's head above water.

Your right, most of these boats are just semi-submersible. The cool part is that because of their fiberglass construction they don't show up on radar so actually finding them is extremely difficult

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narco_submarine

Idolotor · #4 07-17-2008, 11:24 AM

Mexican submarine and four guys with lots of coke = a can of powdered refried beans!

John Doe · #5 07-17-2008, 11:32 AM

iirc, Swamp Yankee's Uncle had a much nobler reason to build one: to avoid a dui coming back from the bar across the lake

Tymbrymi · #6 07-17-2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Doe

iirc, Swamp Yankee's Uncle had a much nobler reason to build one: to avoid a dui coming back from the bar across the lake

That was an awesome story! Wasn't he also the 4th largest consumer of a type of beer in the state?

chetwesley · #7 07-17-2008, 02:21 PM

So where can I find plans for one on the internet?

MTI · #8 07-17-2008, 03:13 PM

I had a sub once. Powered by baking soda. Checked the mailbox everyday for nearly all summer for it.