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.
SpaceX's Starlink Internet Likely Being Tested By Drug Smugglers
According to a report by the AFP, the Colombian Navy recently seized a semi-submersible watercraft typically used to smuggle and transport drugs. Using autonomous submarines for drug transportation is quite common, with a large portion of drugs, typically cocaine, from Colombia headed for US shores.
Since the boats are autonomous, if they are seized by authorities, then cartel members are able to avoid jail time. However, piloting these boats requires an internet connection, and they are a relatively new phenomenon compared to crewed drug submarines, which have been around for more than two decades.
Since SpaceX's Starlink internet relies on low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, it is able to offer high internet speeds and low latency. Latency, which refers to the time that it takes for an information packet to travel from a user and back to them, is key for piloting vehicles such as drug boats and for other activities such as video conferencing.
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.
The visuals shared by AFP show a flat Starlink dish on the boat, but since the footage is low quality, it's unclear whether the smugglers were using the professional or personal Starlink dish. SpaceX also allows its Starlink users to use a roaming service which allows them to maintain internet connectivity on the move.
SpaceX's Starlink terms of service, which a user agrees when they sign up for the service, prohibit the internet service for being used for illegal activities. Starlink warns users that it "may, at any time, without prior notice, immediately terminate or suspend all or a portion of your account and/or access to the Services" in case the user participates in "fraudulent or illegal activities."
About the author: Ramish is a seasoned technology writer and editor with more than a decade of experience. He specializes in semiconductor fabrication and market analysis. With a background in finance and supply chain management - via his bachelors in Finance and a micromasters in supply chain management from MIT - Ramish combines financial rigor with deep industry insight to deliver accurate and authoritative coverage.
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