Starlink Used By Drug Smugglers To Pilot Uncrewed Semi-Submersible

SpaceX's Starlink internet service was on a boat used by drug smugglers in Colombia, according to a report by AFP. Colombian authorities seized the boat recently but did not share additional details about the recovery date. The autonomous craft did not have any drugs on board, making it likely that the smugglers were testing its operations before loading their cargo. Starlink's near-ubiquitous internet coverage worldwide has made the internet service popular in the logistics industry, with cruise ship companies and commercial airliners relying on the service for coverage in regions that typically could not access high-speed internet.

The AFP reports that the boat seized by the Colombian Navy is capable of transporting 1.5 tons of drugs. The Navy claims to have confiscated ten such vehicles so far in 2025, and while this ship did not have any drugs on board, it did have a Starlink dish placed on top. The Starlink dish makes it likely that the cartels were testing the ship before loading it with the valuable cargo.