Soon we will start seeing cocaine smuggled around the world in one of these.

nxzero · on Sept 5, 2016

Narco-submarines already exist and the cost of a manned boat would likely be cheaper than an autonomous one.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narco-submarine

tonyrb · on Sept 5, 2016

From the wiki there is a documentary about where the Cartel wanted they technology to go. https://youtu.be/yqYoif-9c64?t=24m13s

automatic submarine via satellite.

amenod · on Sept 5, 2016

But crew of a manned boat might talk when captured.

DasIch · on Sept 5, 2016

You need to control both harbors for that though. If you have a crew, they can make the transaction with another organisation and you don't need any local resources.

reustle · on Sept 5, 2016

You're assuming they come into a harbor. There are plenty of places to get to land with nobody around.

prawn · on Sept 6, 2016

Meet up with fishing boats out at sea, then they bring goods ashore.

DasIch · on Sept 5, 2016

Even if you don't use an actual harbor but just a "harbor", you need control of that area or someone you sell the drugs to needs to have that control.

You also need people that put money on the drone. No point in shipping the drugs, if you don't have a way to transport the proceeds into the other direction.