U.S. Coast Guard stops 'drug sub' in Western Caribbean

The U.S. Coast Guard interdicted a suspected 'drug sub' in the Western Caribbean earlier this month.

The Coast Guard said one of its C-130 Hercules airplanes spotted the self-propelled semi-submersible vessel on September 17th. That's when the Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk, out of Key West, moved in.

The Coast Guard said it recovered cocaine from the vessel which sank during the interdiction.

"The use of self propelled semi-submersibles is relatively new in the Caribbean so it's a serious operational challenge for the cutter fleet," said Cmdr. Mark Fedor, Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk's commanding officer in a written release. "They are a significant threat to our nation and our friends throughout Central and South America because they can smuggle massive amounts of narcotics as well as other illicit goods or people."

The recovered narcotics and suspects were turned over to other U.S. law enforcement agencies.