The Feds Can't Catch the Cartels' Cocaine-Filled Submarines: Is the War on Drugs a Waste of Money?

by Chris D Posted 2012/09/10 21:00:00

Related Topics: Drug Cartel, Drugs, War On Drugs, Time, Cocaine, Drug Running, Pacific Ocean, Submarine, Smuggling

583 votes
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	Yes	379 votes	65%
	No	96 votes	16%
	Sort of	108 votes	19%

As drug dealers continue making huge sums of money, the smuggling effort becomes more and more sophisticated. Now, it seems like an endless effort of chasing down drug smugglers. Even at the height of the "Drug War," drugs were endlessly available. Are we just wasting resources trying to stop drug smugglers?

NEWS.YAHOO.COM reports:
With three-quarters of potential cocaine shipments sliding under their noses, United States authorities are having a hard time keeping up with the Latin American drug cartels. Part of the problem, a new report in The New York Times says, is the fact that the famously daring and elusive drug-running submarines aren't just operating in the Pacific Ocean any more. These diesel-powered vessels have taken the Caribbean by storm, and the technology powering them is getting more sophisticated.

+25

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krayzrick 2012/09/10 22:06:49

Yes

+13
It's a farce. It's how the CIA gets it's money. They been fighting this supposed war for how many years? 50? 60? It's BULLCRAP people. Just another way to suck us dry...
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More polls by Chris D

Greg 2012/09/21 00:39:02

Yes

Is the Pope German?

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Little Angel 2012/09/20 18:30:47

Yes

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Broken 2012/09/15 13:33:59

No

The problem is we have fought this war like we have fought most others since WWII - we fought to lose. I advocate a take no prisoners, scorched earth policy on drug users, drug trafficers, and drug producers. Invade the countries where the cartels are. Blow up every house and property of the drug kings. If it is a war you want to win, you will take whatever measures are needed to kill your enemy - but we won't because we are nt serious about winning this or any war.

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Guru_T_Firefly 2012/09/15 04:44:54

Yes

+1
The War on Drugs has been a waste of money since it's inception.

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flrdsgns 2012/09/15 01:27:42

Yes

+2
Yes, it always has been a waste of time, and money

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ray 2012/09/14 21:52:43

No

Deploy some PT boats with modern sonar and depth charges .
This would be good practice training for the Navy .

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Reggie☮ 2012/09/14 16:13:28

Yes

+1
Yes, these perpetual wars are obviously not working and only wasting money.

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Radlad 2012/09/14 08:53:12

Sort of

+1
........it all kinda depends on how hard the government as in ours is trying to stop it. If these coke-subs can't be stopped then the need to bring in the US Navy is called for. If the US Navy is already involved and they can't stop these coke-subs then we are in trouble cause how are they going to be able to stop a ruskie sub.?

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jose 2012/09/13 18:36:57
Jim 2012/09/13 17:59:59 (edited)

Yes

+3
I'm for legalizing NATURAL psychedelic drugs like weed, magic mushrooms, and coca leaves. Artificial recreational drugs, like crack and straight cocaine, should both remain illegal.

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johnnyg 2012/09/13 17:34:27

Yes

Why would the CIA catch their own subs??

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Valentine Oriön 2012/09/13 17:13:05 (edited)

Sort of

+2
On marijuana yes, 'cause it really is helpful as medicine... the rest of drugs still yes, but it needs to be done it kills people... so I guess I should've selected yes lol.

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avalanche 2012/09/13 16:36:53

Yes

+4
Like the war on poverty, or illiteracy, or terrorism.

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Tom Trojan 2012/09/13 15:16:05

Yes

If it is a "WAR" then where are the soldiers???

If we are serious about solving the problem, then let's stop using policemen to do the job of soldiers.....

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shadow76 2012/09/13 15:05:59

Sort of

Maybe we should send the Navy after the subs.

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Michael Hertel 2012/09/13 14:32:50

Yes

+2
Raise it ourselves and sell it making it legal in manner similair to alcohol. Same with many other drugs some will use in moderation some will not and die as a result it should be their choice.

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Somkey the Hores 2012/09/13 14:13:01

Sort of

+1
It is an industry created by the US government.

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Katfish 2012/09/13 13:28:58

Yes

+1
Allow people to make their own choices and mistakes, maybe improve the gene pool.

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Airhead to Katfish 2012/09/19 03:05:35

+1
It's so true. Ever watch the movie Idiocracy by Mike Judge? That is our future.

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Katfish to Airhead 2012/09/19 18:43:45

Yes, I have seen it, its been a few years though.
I think there will be bankrupcy combined with severe civil unrest in the future.

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Kirby 2012/09/13 11:28:41

Yes

+3
Yes, yes, a million times yes! How many trillions of dollars has this country WASTED on this drug war and they haven't made a dent in it. Yet drug cartels, street gangs and the Mob have made how much money! Legalize and regulate. Seen a t-shirt the other day that pretty much sums it up "Drug Cartels to don't ask your kids for ID!"

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gilbertgosane 2012/09/13 09:51:34

Yes

Legalize it already.

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Valenti... to gilbert... 2012/09/13 17:16:55

Ewww what is that?

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johnnyg to Valenti... 2012/09/13 17:35:39

Crack.

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Valenti... to johnnyg 2012/09/13 18:15:09 (edited)

It's all dirty an looks like tore up bread :\…

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johnnyg to Valenti... 2012/09/13 18:16:43
Valenti... to johnnyg 2012/09/13 18:19:38

+1
Oh. My "uncle" does crack. You can tell the difference when he's on it, he's nice sober, and mean high. Its literally Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde.

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johnnyg to Valenti... 2012/09/13 18:50:37

Don't let him near your TV and DVD player!!

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Valenti... to johnnyg 2012/09/13 21:44:26

+1
Yeah he um is my landlord also so any bit of money my parents owe him he'll hound 'em for it. My mom has tried every drug except Meth I think. Idk I've been offered coke an x I just have bad anxiety an don't wanna try it plus I won't waste my money I've bought pot one time it was high grade an I used to smoke a bowl before bed cause of my anxiety an sleep problems a quarter lasted me over a mth. I believe in using pot for medicinal purposes it helps better when I'm depressed than my medicine I'm prescribed. I've tried shrooms as well I did those just to do em but I was 14 I'll admit they made me really happy. But I will not touch anything unnatural unless prescribed. Pot an shrooms are the only natural ones I know of.

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Jim to gilbert... 2012/09/13 17:58:50

+2
I'm for legalizing NATURAL psychedelic drugs like weed, magic mushrooms, and coca leaves. Anything artificial like crack and straight cocaine should both remain illegal.

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Head2Head 2012/09/13 05:08:11

Yes

+3
Yes, legalize, regulate the drugs, and put the cartels, out of business!

reply
rk 2012/09/13 03:56:23

No

We can catch any of these we just need to put assets in place.

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Jacker The Capper 2012/09/13 03:35:54

Sort of

+1
Cut down on the Anti-Weed WAR!!! It'll save SO MUCH $$$$$

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johnnyg to Jacker ... 2012/09/13 17:37:11

It will save money for we the people. It will cost money for government, the state, and police.

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Jacker ... to johnnyg 2012/09/13 20:16:04

Ikr!

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exhon2009 2012/09/13 03:04:11

Yes

+1
Calling them submarines is giving them more credit than they deserve. I've seen documentaries on them and they are little more than low profile vessels that ride right at the surface are cramped, hot and extremely dangerous for the operators. However, they are also hard to spot and are getting more sophisticated. The early ones were throw aways but lately the've been finding them with zinc coatings that indicate they expect them to be reused some number of times.

I detest drugs but I'm afraid the libertarians have this one right.

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johnnyg to exhon2009 2012/09/13 18:54:01

So those CIA guys are brave for getting in those death traps??

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wqerwqerwe 2012/09/13 01:44:16

Sort of

They are catching a lot of these submarines. They are what is called a "semi-sub". They are only partially submerged. Its not a total waste of time but of course its a hard job.

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qq4x 2012/09/13 01:34:57 (edited)

Yes

we spend about 52.9 billion a year on the drug war, although estimates vary. If we ended the drug war, counting fuel and construction costs, we could afford to send 24 space shuttles full of $100 bills to the moon. Some people would prefer sending it to the sun, but then we cant see the shuttles hit, after all the sun is sort of bright. More importantly if we end the drug war what colossal waste of government money will be as entertaining as watching Uncle Sam not stopping drug cartels?

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johnnyg to qq4x 2012/09/13 17:37:57

Not WE. The GOVERNMENT.

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