Antagonist Innovation: technologies, practices and innovation in the War on Drugs

Abstract

<p>Since the early 1990s, maritime routes are the primary method used by Colombian smugglers to transport illicit drugs to consumer or transshipment countries. Smugglers have developed their kind of artifacts, the narcosubs. The Colombian Navy has adopted several strategies and adapted several technologies in their attempt to control the flows of illicit drugs. In the so-called War on Drugs (WoD), law enforcement, military, and drug smugglers have engaged in the production, modification, and maintenance of technological artifacts. Based on documentary material, observations and interviews I present the process of innovation by antagonism in the War on Drugs in Colombia. I present an overview of the co-evolution of drug trafficking technologies and the techniques and technologies used by the Colombian Navy to counter the activities of drug smugglers. I emphasize on the process of self-building artifacts by smugglers, explained as a bricolage of local knowledge of traditional boat building with off-the-shelf technologies and in the localized character of the responses by the Navy personnel. Explanations aiming to account for the process of innovation in outlaw contexts in which antagonistic relationships shape the actions of players must take into account the paradoxical and symbiotic relationship between players in the two sides</p>

Architectures, spaces, and territories of illicit drug trafficking in Colombia and Mexico

“…The development of semi-submersibles and narco-shipyards, as well as the construction of narco-tunnels, reflects the application of spatial thinking to strategic insertions in the territory and to the implementation of highly specialized professional and technical capacities (Redacción El Tiempo, 2008). These achievements demonstrate that DTOs are highly resourceful and can use technological and traditional construction knowledge in multiple spatial settings (Guerrero, 2016; Nieto-Gomez, 2016).…”

“…Semi-submersible marine vessels, which allow drug traffickers to stealthily move large loads over long distances, can submerge approximately 80% of their volume (Anderson, 2015; Guerrero, 2016). These artifacts are manufactured with lead components to avoid detection by infrared systems, and with fiberglass or aluminum sheets in colors that mimic those of the sea.…”

“…These artifacts are manufactured with lead components to avoid detection by infrared systems, and with fiberglass or aluminum sheets in colors that mimic those of the sea. The interior space shown in Figure 4, contains separate areas for the crew, machines, and a load of 2–10 tons of cocaine (Guerrero, 2016), which occupies more than half of the vessel (Figure 4). Although they have been used since the end of the 20th century, the first seizures of semi-submersibles took place from 2005.…”

“…The tracking by the authorities is hindered by the aforementioned materials and because they emit little noise. Although they are slower than other vehicles, because they sail at a speed of up to 12 knots per hour, semi-submersibles are used in transnational distribution (Guerrero, 2016).…”