Brazen South American drug cartels; Italian mafia fake ‘mini whale submarines smuggling cocaine and fentanyl into Australia’

International drug traffickers are building hi-tech fake marine animals such as whales to mask underwater vessels amid increasingly brazen efforts to smuggle illicit shipments into Australia, insiders claim.

International drug traffickers are building hi-tech fake marine animals such as whales to mask underwater vessels amid increasingly brazen efforts to smuggle illicit shipments into Australia, insiders claim.

In a new front in the country’s drugs war, Italian mafia, South American cartels and bikie gangs are turning to “sophisticated” underwater technology to avoid detection.

Interstate underworld sources claim criminals are designing mini-submarines camouflaged as animals including fake whales, which can smuggle hundreds of kilograms of drugs such as cocaine.

While criminal syndicates have used “narco subs” for years – Australia-bound vessels were intercepted last year – senior law enforcement sources said it represented a new style of drug smuggling.

Narcosubs and drug shipments intercepted during Operation Orion. Picture: Colombian Navy.

The subs were believed to be bound for Australia. Picture: Colombian Navy.

Top secret whale designs are being trialled but in the past few weeks shipments successfully evaded authorities along the NSW and WA coasts, sources claimed.

Others are planned through Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide although precise details are unknown.

“Whale vessels” are transported on cargo ships through international waters before being “dumped” to make deliveries to other boats to travel onshore.

Subs, which sources said can carry a “sh**load” of cocaine and fentanyl, are understood to originate from overseas ports in Holland, Malta, Cyprus and Peru.

“Successful tests have been carried out,” one high-ranking figure said.

“They look like real whales – it’s f***ing incredible how realife they look.

“It’s sophisticated stuff but people are getting p***ed off their stuff is being caught.”

The Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and South Australia Police announce the state's biggest ever drug bust in 2022. Picture: Tom Huntley

Organised crime gangs, linked to the Italian ‘Ndrangheta mafia from Calabria, Colombian cartels and Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, are angry authorities are disrupting existing smuggling operations, sources claimed.

Criminal networks have been smashed through apps AN0M and Ghost.

The Australian Border Force last year revealed talks with “offshore partners” about “emerging methodology” including “drug-smuggling submarines”.

An ABF spokesman said it did not comment on specific intelligence or ongoing operations.

But he said officers work closely with domestic, and international agencies, to combat “evolving” organised crime tactics “including those involving hi-tech maritime vessels”.

Authorities were committed to “disrupting the supply chains of organised crime groups and will continue to adapt its methods to address these challenges”, he added.

Crime gangs are said to be annoyed at the success of federal anti-drug operations. Picture: Tait Schmaal.

“Criminal syndicates, including international cartels, are constantly innovating their methods to circumvent law enforcement,” he said.

“The ABF monitors these developments through intelligence sharing and collaborative efforts with partner agencies globally.

“This includes surveillance of unconventional and emerging methods of drug concealment and transport, such as advanced marine technology.”

He said officers were trained to identify, and respond to, such threats using cutting-edge technology, targeted operations and intelligence-led strategies.

An Australian Federal Police spokeswoman said officers were “aware of range of innovative methodologies” crime gangs use for drug importations including “semi-submersible vessels”.

“Australia continues to be an attractive target for Transnational and Serious Organised Crime due to high consumer demand and high relative prices for illicit drugs,” she said.

“The AFP prioritises offshore detection, disruption and deterrence where possible, to stop illicit drugs at their source of origin … before they cause harm.”

Last month authorities seized more than 2.3 tonnes of ­cocaine, worth almost $1bn, off the Queensland coast, in what was believed to be Australia’s biggest bust linked to bikies.

South American cartels are said to be using the new technology. Picture: Jason Edwards

Weeks earlier authorities intercepted three Columbian drug cartel-owned submarines, carrying tonnes of cocaine bound for Australia, under the sea.

A semi-submersible, crafted from wood and fibreglass that make it almost impossible for radar detection, was among seized “narco subs” under Operation Orion, involving American, Brazilian, Spanish and Dutch security agencies.

The global operation seized up to 225 tonnes of cocaine and more than 1000 tonnes of cannabis while at least 400 suspects were arrested.

Spokeswomen for SA and NSW Police referred inquiries to the AFP and Border Force.