Enrique Portocarrero may not look like a mad genius. But Colombian officials say this part-time shrimp fisherman is largely responsible for equipping the nation's cocaine cartels with a fleet of miniature submarines. According to the L.A. Times, local law enforcement officials call him "Captain Nemo."
The U.S. Coast Guard has found more than 60 of the undersea vessels so far this year. "Once perceived as impractical and risky smuggling tools," mini-subs are becoming increasingly sophisticated, Coast Guard Commander Cameron Naron told our own David Axe earlier this year.
The Coast Guard believes the vessels are manufactured in rebel-controlled Colombian jungles, but where the designs come from,
Naron can't say. "If you had that information, we'd be very interested."
Well, Commander, now you know.
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