Legislation authored by Congressman Dan Lungren giving law enforcement authorities a critical tool in the fight against drug lords and terrorists passed the House yesterday.

The bill will prohibit the use of non-registered submarines, which criminals have been using to silently bring tons of illegal drugs across our nation’s border.  When confronted by the Coast Guard, operators would scuttle the ship, sending the evidence—and a chance at prosecution—to the bottom of the ocean.

Lungren, a member of the House Judiciary committee and ranking member on the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, along with Rep. Poe (R-TX), were pleased with the passage of HR 6295, which will help defend our nation against persons using submersible and semi-submersible vessels used to transport drugs to our shores.

“This bill on which Congressman Poe and I have worked, addresses a serious problem relating to the use of submersible and semi-submersible vessels to transport drugs and potentially other contraband which pose a threat to our communities and national security,” Lungren said.

HR 6295 will amend title 18, of the United States Code, to prohibit operation by any means or embarking in any submersible or semi-submersible vessel that is without nationality and that is navigating or has navigated into, through or from waters beyond the outer limit of the territorial sea of a single country.  The bill will carry a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment. 

“The defense of this country is paramount to me and it is vital that we give the Coast Guard all the tools they need to defend our shores and prosecute those who wish to do us harm. So far we have only discovered these vessels being used to smuggle narcotics, imagine if they were used to smuggle a nuclear weapon. We can not allow that to happen,” Lungren concluded.

The submersible vessels are typically less than 100 feet in length, usually carry 5-6 tons of illicit cargo –everything from drugs, guns, people and potentially weapons of mass destruction.