Outlaw Tech (2017–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - Cocaine Sub Wars - full transcript
Drug lords in South America have built a fleet of narco subs to carry cocaine to the US. These vessels are engineered to escape detection by law enforcement, leading to a high-tech game of ...
Narrator: UNDER THE HIGH-TECH
EYE OF U.S. MILITARY SURVEILLANCE,
MODERN-DAY DRUG LORDS
LAUNCH A NARCO-SUB
DESIGNED TO ESCAPE DETECTION.
Moore:
IT IS A CAT-AND-MOUSE GAME.
THEY CAN SINK
WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
AND THAT IS TRULY SCARY
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.
Narrator: A VENGEFUL GAMBLER
PUTS HIS ENGINEERING SKILLS
TO THE TEST AGAINST
A CASINO ARMED
WITH TOP-NOTCH SECURITY.
Rothbart:
A LIGHT CAME ON IN HIS HEAD.
HE KNEW HOW HE COULD PULL OFF
A HEIST.
Narrator: THIS MASTERMIND
ALSO CRACKED AN ESCAPE ROUTE
THAT COULD BE HIS UNDOING.
Hammack: THE ENGINE IS
PRODUCING EXHAUST FUMES
THAT COULD BE FATAL
IF YOU BREATHE A LOT OF IT IN.
IT'S A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.
Narrator: TECHNOLOGY... IT'S A
NEW, WIDE-OPEN, WILD WEST.
WITH ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES,
FROM HIGH-TECH HEISTS
TO REAL-LIFE HACKS
TO THE REACHES OF CYBERSPACE,
TECHNOLOGY IS THE LATEST WEAPON
IN THE WAR BETWEEN
MODERN-DAY CROOKS
AND CUTTING-EDGE COPS.
IN THE WRONG HANDS,
TECHNOLOGY CAN BE CRIMINAL.
NEARLY 50 YEARS AFTER THE U.S.
WAR ON DRUGS WAS DECLARED,
SMUGGLING NARCOTICS
AROUND THE GLOBE
HAS EVOLVED FROM USING SIMPLE
DRUG MULES TO ENGINEERING
SPECIALLY-BUILT VEHICLES
TO CARRY ILLICIT GOODS.
AT THE SAME TIME,
SEARCHING FOR THOSE DRUGS
HAS MOVED LIGHT YEARS
BEYOND BORDER INSPECTIONS,
DOG SNIFFERS,
AND STRIP SEARCHES.
TO COUNTER THE LATEST
IN DRUG-RUNNING DESIGN,
BOTH THE U.S. COAST GUARD
AND U.S. NAVY
USE CUTTING-EDGE SURVEILLANCE
AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES
TO CATCH MODERN-DAY
DRUG BARONS IN THE ACT.
BUT AS AUTHORITIES HAVE
STEPPED UP THE PRESSURE,
SO, TOO, HAVE UNDERWORLD
DRUG SMUGGLERS,
LEADING TO A HIGH-TECH GAME OF
HIDE-AND-SEEK ON THE HIGH SEAS.
IN JULY, 2015, NAVY
HIGH-TECH RECONNAISSANCE,
INCLUDING THE LATEST
IN RADAR TECHNOLOGY...
CAPTAIN.
...ALERTS U.S. COAST GUARD
CAPTAIN NATE MOORE
THAT A VALUABLE TARGET
HAS BEEN FOUND...
THE ELUSIVE NARCO-SUB.
ROGER. LET'S PLOT A COURSE
TO INTERCEPT.
Moore: WHEN WE FIRST GOT WORD
OF THE NARCO-SUB BEING SPOTTED,
IT WAS QUITE AN EXCITING
TIME FOR US,
BECAUSE THIS WAS THE UNICORN.
THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT WE KNEW WAS OUT THERE,
BUT WE HAD NEVER SEEN ONE.
A NARCO-SUBMARINE REFERS
TO A SELF-PROPELLED
SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE,
WHICH IS AN OCEAN-GOING VEHICLE
THAT TRANSPORTS
LARGE AMOUNTS
OF COCAINE
FROM SOUTH AMERICA
TO CENTRAL AMERICA
OR NORTH AMERICA.
Moore: ANY VESSEL AT SEA
THAT HAS NO PURPOSE OTHER
THAN SMUGGLING IS,
BY DEFINITION, ILLEGAL,
AND CARRIES A PENALTY OF UP
TO 15 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON.
AND THE WAY WE KNOW
THEY'RE ILLEGAL IS
BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE RUNNING LIGHTS,
THEY HAVE NO
NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT.
THE NARCO-SUBS DON'T LOOK
LIKE THE SUBS YOU SEE ON TV.
THEY'RE NOT GIANT,
METAL MISSILES
GOING THROUGH THE WATER.
Moore: THEY ARE VERY FRAGILE.
THEY'RE MADE OUT
OF WOOD AND FIBERGLASS.
THEY'RE NOT BUILT TO
ANY GOVERNMENT SAFETY STANDARDS,
SO THEY'RE DANGEROUS.
Ramirez: OVER TIME, DRUG-TRAFFICKING
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE EVOLVED.
THEY'VE BECOME MORE STRATEGIC
AND MORE TACTICAL
AND MORE RESOURCEFUL.
AND BECAUSE OF THIS
ABILITY TO ADAPT
AND TO BE INNOVATIVE,
THEY'VE BECOME VERY DANGEROUS
TO LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND TO SOCIETY.
IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT
TO STOP NARCO-SUBMARINES.
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
READILY ADMITS
THAT IS ONLY CAPTURING ABOUT 15%
OF THE NARCO-SUBMARINES
THAT MAKE THEIR WAY
TO THE UNITED STATES.
AND THAT IS A REAL
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE.
Narrator: THE NARCO-SUB
CAPTAIN MOORE IS HUNTING
BEGAN ITS JOURNEY
A FEW DAYS EARLIER
IN THE MANGROVE SWAMPS
OF NORTHERN COLOMBIA.
Hammack: THE SUBS ARE BUILT
WITH A WOOD FRAME
COVERED WITH FIBERGLASS
TO MAKE IT WATERPROOF.
IT'S A VERY SIMPLE DESIGN.
THERE'S A DIESEL ENGINE,
USUALLY FROM A TRACTOR TRAILER,
SIMPLE LIGHTING,
AND A BALLAST TANK
THAT CAN BE FILLED WITH WATER
TO MAKE IT FLOAT LOW
IN THE WATER.
THERE'S A TINY CABIN
WHERE THE CAPTAIN SITS,
WITH A STEERING WHEEL,
A GPS FOR NAVIGATION,
AND A SATELLITE PHONE TO KEEP
IN CONTACT WITH THE CARTELS.
Narrator: CARTELS...
CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS
THAT TRAFFIC IN
ILLEGAL NARCOTICS...
CRAFT THE NARCO-SUBS
USING INGENIOUS
BUT VERY SIMPLE TECHNOLOGY,
ALL TO SMUGGLE DRUGS
INTO THE U.S.
Moore: THE NARCO-SUBS
TYPICALLY TRAVEL
500 TO 1,000 MILES
IN OPEN WATER
TO TRY TO GET
TO THEIR LANDING POINT.
IT TAKES THEM DAYS
TO MAKE THE JOURNEY,
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE LIVING ON ONE
OF THESE THINGS
FOR THAT MUCH TIME,
WITH NO WAY TO GO
TO THE BATHROOM,
NO VENTILATION, AND NOWHERE
TO REALLY SLEEP.
THEY ARE BASICALLY
JUST DESIGNED SIMPLY DESIGNED
FOR A ONE-WAY SHIPMENT
OF AS MUCH DRUGS
AS THEY CAN PACK
INTO THE BOAT.
EARLY ON, NARCO-SUBMARINES,
OR LOW-PROFILE VEHICLES,
WERE MEANT FOR ONE SINGLE TRIP.
THEY WERE MEANT
TO DELIVER A LOAD,
AND THEN THEY WOULD
ULTIMATELY BE SCUTTLED.
THEY WOULD BE SENT
TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA
AFTER OFFLOADING THE COCAINE.
Narrator: THE NARCO-SUB
THEY'RE TRACKING IS THOUGHT
TO HAVE A CARGO
OF 16,000 POUNDS OF COCAINE,
7 TONS, WITH A STREET VALUE
OF $181 MILLION.
Vincent: NARCO-SUBS ARE RUMORED
TO CARRY APPROXIMATELY 30%
OF ALL COCAINE
FROM SOUTH AMERICA
INTO NORTH AMERICA.
Narrator: MILES AWAY AT
COMALAPA AIR BASE IN EL SALVADOR,
A U.S. NAVY P-3 ORION MARITIME
SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT
TAKES OFF ON A ROUTINE PATROL.
Hilbert: THE ORION P-3
IS A SUB HUNTER.
IT IS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY
FOR LONG-RANGE
RECONNAISSANCE OVER THE OCEAN
TO IDENTIFY SUBS.
Moore:
THE ADVANTAGE OF AIRCRAFT
IS THAT THEY COVER
A MUCH WIDER AREA
AND MOVE QUICKLY TO LOOK
FOR TARGETS ON THE WATER.
Narrator:
THE P-3 WAS DEVELOPED
TO DETECT SOVIET-MISSILE
SUBMARINES.
Hammack: IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY
EFFECTIVE WEAPON DURING THE COLD WAR,
AND IT'S BEEN IN CONSTANT USE
IN OTHER CONFLICT ZONES
SINCE THEN...
IN THE PERSIAN GULF,
AFGHANISTAN AND NORTH KOREA.
Narrator: THE P-3 IS CURRENTLY
ONE OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S
MOST FORMIDABLE WEAPONS
AGAINST DRUG SMUGGLERS.
Hammack: THE P-3 IS
A TECHNOLOGICAL MARVEL.
IT COULD HUNT FOR SUBMARINES
USING A VARIETY
OF HIGH-TECH SENSORS...
INFRARED CAMERAS, RADAR,
SONAR, AND MAGNETIC
ANOMALY DETECTION.
A MAGNETOMETER DETECTS
SMALL CHANGES
IN THE EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD...
ANYTHING WITH IRON IN IT.
IT'S LOCATED ON THE TIP
OF A BOOM THAT PROJECTS
FROM THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
AND YOU CAN USE IT
TO PINPOINT THE LOCATION
OF A SUBMERGED SUBMARINE,
BUT ONLY IF THAT
SUBMARINE CONTAINS
A LOT OF IRON AND STEEL.
Narrator: BUT THE NARCO-SUB
IS NOT MADE OF THESE MATERIALS.
THE WOOD-AND-FIBERGLASS
VESSEL IS SPECIFICALLY
DESIGNED TO DEFEAT
MAGNETIC ANOMALY DETECTION.
THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING
THAT MAKES THE SUB
CHALLENGING TO TRACK.
THE SHEER SIZE OF
THE SEARCH AREA ALSO MAKES
FOR A NEAR-IMPOSSIBLE TASK.
IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC,
THE DRUG-TRAFFIC ZONE
IS APPROXIMATELY
6 MILLION SQUARE MILES.
WE HAVE A CONTINUOUS PRESENCE
IN THE DRUG-TRANSIT ZONE.
THERE ARE SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT
UP THERE EVERY DAY,
ALL THE TIME.
Narrator:
BUT EVEN WITHOUT THE ABILITY
TO DETECT THE SUB
WITH ITS MAGNETOMETER,
THE P-3 SEARCH IS BASED
ON INTELLIGENCE REPORTS
THAT A SUB IS DOWN
THERE SOMEWHERE.
MOST NARCO-SUBMARINES
HAVE BEEN CAPTURED
BECAUSE THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
HAVE MONITORED CELLULAR
COMMUNICATIONS IN A WAY
THAT LEADS THEM TO BELIEVE
WHERE A SUBMARINE
IS GOING TO BE
DEPARTING FROM,
ON WHAT DATE, AND WHERE
ITS ULTIMATE DESTINATION IS.
Narrator:
BUT THAT INTEL IS ONLY
THE STARTING POINT
FOR THIS HIGH-TECH HUNT.
TO LOCATE THE NARCO-SUB,
THE P-3 CREW STARTS BY SEARCHING
FOR ONE SIMPLE, SPECIFIC CLUE.
THE EASIEST WAY TO SEE SOMETHING
IN THE WATER, TYPICALLY,
IS YOU SEE THE WAKE
THAT MOVES BEHIND IT.
THE WHITE WAKE OF FOAM...
THAT CAN EASILY BE
SPOTTED FROM THE AIR.
Narrator: EXCEPT IF WHAT YOU'RE
LOOKING FOR ISN'T VERY LARGE.
Hammack: THE NARCO-SUB IS
40 FEET LONG FROM END TO END,
WHICH IS SLIGHTLY LONGER
THAN THE AVERAGE SCHOOL BUS.
IT'S A VERY SMALL ITEM
TO BE LOOKING FOR
IN THE MIDDLE OF A BIG OCEAN.
Narrator: BUT THE MERE HUMAN EYE
CAN ONLY SEE SO FAR.
TO LOCATE THE NARCO-SUB,
THE P-3 DEPLOYS THE LATEST
IN RADAR TECHNOLOGY,
WHICH CAN DETECT OBJECTS
NO MATTER WHAT THEY'RE MADE OF.
Hammack: RADAR WORKS BY BOUNCING
HIGH-FREQUENCY RADIO
WAVES OFF OBJECTS
AND ANALYZING CHANGES
IN THOSE WAVES
WHEN THEY BOUNCE BACK.
Narrator: AS OPPOSED TO SONAR,
RADAR ONLY WORKS
WHEN AN OBJECT IS ABOVE WATER.
THE NARCO-SUB
DOESN'T SUBMERGE COMPLETELY,
SO A PORTION OF IT
IS ABOVE WATER AT ALL TIMES.
Moore: WE EMIT A RADAR SIGNAL.
ANY STRUCTURE ON THE WATER,
INCLUDING A BOAT,
THEN RETURNS A PORTION
OF THAT SIGNAL.
SO, RADAR DOES NOT GIVE YOU
A VISUAL PICTURE
OF WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT,
BUT IT DOES GIVE YOU
A RELATIVE LOCATION.
Narrator: AS THE RADAR
SWEEPS THE AREA,
THE DRUG RUNNERS DO THEIR BEST
TO STAY HIDDEN BY RIDING
AS LOW AS THEY CAN.
THEY ARE HARD
TO DETECT ON RADAR,
BASED ON THEIR LOW SIGNATURE.
Narrator: BUT THE HIGH-TECH
SEARCH IS JUST GETTING STARTED.
IT IS A CAT-AND-MOUSE GAME.
Narrator: THE U.S. NAVY AND U.S.
COAST GUARD ARE ON THE FRONT LINES
OF THE WAR ON DRUGS,
AS THEY USE HIGH-TECH
SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT TO TRACK
AND STOP ILLEGAL NARCO-SUBS.
BUT THE NARCO-SUBS ARE BUILT
SPECIFICALLY TO EVADE THEM.
THE NARCO-SUBS ARE DESIGNED
WITH LOW FREEBOARD,
WHICH MEAN THAT
THE AMOUNT OF THE BOAT
ABOVE THE WATER IS VERY SMALL.
SO, MUCH LIKE AN ICEBERG,
WHERE THE MAJORITY
OF WHAT KEEPS THE THING AFLOAT
IS DOWN BELOW THE WATER LINE,
THAT LOW FREEBOARD TACTICALLY
MAKES THEM HARD TO FIND,
BUT ALSO MAKES
THEM VERY UNSTABLE
AND VERY DANGEROUS TO OPERATE.
Narrator: BALLAST IS WHAT MAKES
THE NARCO-SUB RIDE SO LOW.
Hammack: BALLAST IS WEIGHT THAT
YOU INCORPORATE IN THE DESIGN
OF A SEA-GOING VESSEL
TO MAKE IT STABLE,
SO IT DOESN'T
TIP OVER EASILY.
BUT IN THE CASE
OF THE NARCO-SUBS,
THEY ALSO USE BALLASTS
FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
THE SUB HAS TWO BALLAST TANKS
THAT ARE FILLED WITH WATER,
AND THESE BALLAST TANKS
ADD SO MUCH WEIGHT TO THE VESSEL
THAT IT PULLS IT
DOWN INTO THE WATER
SO THAT IT FLOATS
JUST AT THE WATER LINE,
MAKING IT ALMOST INVISIBLE.
NOW, TO DEMONSTRATE,
IF YOU CAN IMAGINE
THIS PLASTIC BOTTLE
IS THE NARCO-SUB...
THE BOTTLE IS FULL OF WATER,
SO IT'S SUBMERGED.
BUT, IF YOU EMPTY
THE BALLAST TANK,
OUR BALLOON HERE,
BY SLOWLY PUSHING OUT THE WATER
AND FILLING IT WITH AIR...
...YOU CAN GET IT TO RISE
UNTIL IT'S FLOATING
JUST BELOW THE SURFACE,
EXACTLY LIKE A NARCO-SUB.
FOR THE NARCO-SUB TO DIVE,
THE BALLAST TANK
MUST BE FILLED WITH WATER.
TO FLOAT, THE TANK
MUST BE FILLED WITH AIR.
Narrator: IN THE AIR,
THE SUB HUNT CONTINUES.
THE P-3 CAN ONLY FLY
FOR 10 HOURS
BEFORE IT MUST REFUEL.
DOWN BELOW, THE UNSUSPECTING
NARCO-SUB CAPTAIN
KEEPS UP THE EVASIVE MANEUVERS.
THESE NARCO-SUBS
TYPICALLY WILL SHUT DOWN
DURING THE DAY AND DRIFT.
THEY'RE ALSO PAINTED
A VERY DARK GREEN,
BLUE, OCEAN COLOR.
SO, WHEN THEY ARE DRIFTING,
THEY ARE VERY HARD TO DETECT.
Narrator: UNDER COVER OF NIGHT,
THE SUB GETS UNDERWAY AGAIN.
Moore: THEY DO SHIFT TACTICS,
AND WE ADJUST OUR METHODS,
AS WELL.
IT IS A CAT-AND-MOUSE GAME.
Narrator: AND IN THIS HIGH-TECH
GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE,
THE CAT HAS ANOTHER
CUTTING-EDGE TOOL IT CAN USE...
FLIR, OR FORWARD-LOOKING
INFRARED.
Hammack: INFRARED IS A TYPE OF
RADIATION THAT'S GIVEN OFF BY OBJECTS
THAT ARE HOTTER
THAN THEIR SURROUNDINGS.
INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT
AN OBJECT WITH VISIBLE LIGHT,
YOU CAN SEE IT BY THE HEAT
IT'S GIVING OFF.
Moore: WE ACTUALLY CAN SEE
AT NIGHT USING NO LIGHTS,
SIMPLY USING THAT
INFRARED RETURN,
SO IT'S VERY USEFUL FOR US
IN THE OPEN OCEAN
WHEN WE'RE COMPLETELY DARK,
FAR OFF SHORE,
AND WE CAN ACTUALLY
TRACK OTHER BOATS
BASED ON THEIR HEAT SIGNATURE.
ON A NARCO-SUB,
THE VESSEL ITSELF
WILL BE A LITTLE BIT WARMER,
TYPICALLY,
THAN THE WATER IS AT NIGHT
AND IN THE OPEN OCEAN.
THE ENGINES THAT THEY USE
DO EMIT SOME EXHAUST,
AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY
GET A HEAT SIGNATURE
FROM THE EXHAUST
OF THESE SMALL ENGINES.
AND THEN, OF COURSE,
IF THERE ARE PEOPLE ON DECK,
THE BODY HEAT OF A PERSON
IS VISIBLE IN A FLIR CAMERA.
Narrator: BUT THE INNOVATIVE
MOUSE HASN'T GIVEN UP YET.
Hammack: THE NARCO-SUBS
CAN DEFEAT AN INFRARED CAMERA
BY MASKING THEIR
HEAT SIGNATURE.
LET'S JUST SAY,
THE PATTERN OF HEAT
THAT THE SUB GIVES OFF.
THEY DO THAT BY
INSTALLING A HEAT CONDUCTOR
THAT DISSIPATES THE HEAT
OVER A LARGE SURFACE AREA.
THIS HAS THE EFFECT OF REDUCING
THE HEAT SIGNATURE OF THE SUB.
Narrator: OTHER SOURCES OF HEAT
ARE DEALT WITH
BY NATURALLY COOLING THEM
IN THE OCEAN.
THE NARCO-SUB'S
INGENIOUS DESIGN
PUTS THE EXHAUST PIPES
UNDERWATER,
GREATLY REDUCING THE SUB'S
VISIBLE VAPOR TRAIL.
Hammack: THESE COUNTER-MEASURES
MAKE THE SUBS MUCH HARDER TO DETECT.
THEY'RE ALMOST INVISIBLE,
FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES.
Moore: WE SOMETIMES REFER
TO THEM AS UNICORNS,
AND WE DO THAT BECAUSE
WE TALK ABOUT THEM,
BUT MOST OF US
HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE.
Narrator: BUT THE SEARCH CREW
IS DETERMINED TO CHANGE THAT.
AS PART OF THE HUNT,
THE P-3 DEPLOYS SONOBUOYS,
ANOTHER WEAPON
IN ITS HIGH-TECH ARSENAL.
SONOBUOYS ARE SMALL,
DISPOSABLE DEVICES
THAT CAN BE DROPPED
INTO THE WATER
IN A GRID PATTERN
OR IN A LOCATION,
THAT UTILIZE SONAR TO
IDENTIFY WHERE ITEMS MAY BE.
NOW, THIS COULD BE
THROUGH ACTIVE SONARS,
SENDING OUT SIGNALS
CONSTANTLY AND ANALYZING
HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR THE SOUND
TO COME BACK, OR PASSIVE,
WHICH ARE JUST SITTING
THERE AND LISTENING.
THINK OF THEM
MORE LIKE MICROPHONES
JUST SITTING IN THE WATER.
THEY LISTEN FOR THE SOUND
OF AN ENGINE
OR A PROPELLER IN THE WATER.
Narrator:
TO FOOL THE P-3 SONAR,
THE NARCO-SUB KEEPS ITS ENGINE
NOISE TO A MINIMUM.
Ramirez:
AFTER ALL, THESE VESSELS
DO NOT WANT TO BE
DETECTED BY SONAR,
SO IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT THEY REDUCE
THE NOISE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
Narrator:
WHILE THE NARCO-SUBS ARE QUIET,
THEY AREN'T ENGINEERED
TO BE FAST,
GIVING THE SEARCH CREWS
A DEFINITE ADVANTAGE.
Moore:
WE HAD TO BRING UP OUR ENGINES,
WE BROUGHT OUR GAS TURBINE UP,
WHICH IS OUR SPRINTING ENGINE,
TO CLOSE THAT DISTANCE QUICKLY.
Narrator:
MODERN-DAY DRUG SMUGGLERS
HAVE CRAFTED
SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE SUBMARINES
FROM FIBERGLASS AND WOOD
THAT ARE ALMOST UNDETECTABLE
TO THE AUTHORITIES TASKED
WITH CATCHING THEM.
AS THE P-3,
A U.S. NAVY AIRCRAFT,
CONTINUES TO STALK
THE NARCO-SUB,
THE OUTNUMBERED
AND OUTRESOURCED CREW
CONTINUES THEIR OPERATION.
Moore: THESE NARCO-SUBS
DON'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING,
VENTILATION OF ANY KIND.
THE SMALL ENGINE
THAT RUNS IN THE BACK
TYPICALLY IS VERY CLOSE
TO THE LIVING QUARTERS.
TYPICALLY, THERE'S NOT EVEN ROOM
FOR ALL THE CREW ON BOARD
TO LAY DOWN
OR SIT AT ONE TIME.
Narrator:
THE SUB HAS A CREW OF FOUR...
THE CAPTAIN WHO STEERS THE SHIP,
A MECHANIC WHO OPERATES
THE ENGINE,
A CARGO SPECIALIST,
AND AN ASSISTANT NAVIGATOR.
THE PEOPLE THAT USUALLY
MAKE THESE VOYAGES
ARE PEOPLE
WHO ARE DISENFRANCHISED.
THEY'RE, IN A SENSE,
IMPOVERISHED
INDIVIDUALS IN SOUTH AMERICA
WHO ARE REALLY LOOKING
FOR A QUICK PAYDAY.
Narrator: IRONICALLY,
THE SAME DESIGN FEATURES
THAT MAKE THE NARCO-SUB
SO DIFFICULT TO TRACK
ALSO MAKE IT HAZARDOUS
TO ITS OWN CREW.
BECAUSE IT SITS SO LOW,
THE SUB IS VULNERABLE
TO CHOPPY OR STORMY WATER.
Moore: WHEN THEY ARE MOVING
IN ANY BAD WEATHER,
WATER IS TYPICALLY CRASHING
OVER THE TOP OF THEM.
SO, ANY LEAKS, ANY BREAKDOWN
OF THE ENGINE,
COULD LEAD TO THESE BOATS
QUICKLY SINKING.
Narrator:
WITHOUT ANY CONCRETE LEADS
IN THE NARCO-SUB SEARCH,
THE P-3 TURNS TO MORE
ABSTRACT TECHNOLOGY...
MATHEMATICAL MODELING KNOWN
AS GAME THEORY.
Hilbert: IT'S SPECULATED THAT THEY
USE A VERSION OF GAME THEORY
TO TRACK THE NARCO-SUBS
AS THEY WERE GOING
THROUGH THE WATER.
AND WHAT GAME
THEORY IS, BASICALLY,
IS UNDERSTANDING
WHO YOUR OPPONENT IS,
WHO'S RUNNING THE SHIP,
WHAT'S GOING ON THERE,
AND WHAT THEIR LIKELY
MOVE IS GOING TO BE,
AND AS SUCH, COUNTER MOVING,
BECAUSE YOU'RE WORKING
ON A GIANT GRID BOARD,
AND YOU HAVE TO NARROW DOWN
WHERE IT IS LIKELY
TO FIND THESE SUBS.
NOW, PART OF THAT IS GOING
TO BE WIND CURRENTS,
THE SPEED OF THE SHIP,
THE TRAVEL PATTERN
THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN IN THE PAST,
BUT EQUALLY, WHO'S
ACTUALLY BEHIND IT?
WHO'S THE CONTROL?
WHO'S THE CAPTAIN?
Narrator:
AFTER HOURS OF SEARCHING,
THE P-3 FINALLY SPOTS
SOMETHING IN THE WATER.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
CAPTAIN.
THE U. S. COAST GUARD
CUTTER STRATTON...
ROGER. LET'S PLOT A COURSE
TO INTERCEPT.
...IS ORDERED TO INTERCEPT
THE VESSEL.
NOW. GO FAST.
GO FAST. GO FAST.
SET LE PHASE 2
FOR GO-FAST RESPONSE.
Moore: WHEN WE SET UP TO DO
ONE OF THESE BOARDINGS,
EVERYONE HAS A JOB
AND THEY KNOW WHAT IT IS.
EVERYBODY IS RUNNING THROUGH
THE SHIP, WE'RE EXCITED,
AND WE GET TO OUR STATIONS
AND WE'RE READY TO GO.
Narrator:
THE STATE-OF-THE-ART CUTTER
MUST TRAVEL
TO THE NARCO-SUB'S
LAST KNOWN COORDINATES FAST.
THIS NARCO-SUB WAS DETECTED
APPROXIMATELY 210 MILES SOUTH
OF PUERTO ESCONDIDO, MEXICO,
IN THE DRUG-TRANSIT ZONE.
THE FIRST THING
WE'VE GOT TO DO
FROM THE OPERATIONAL STANDPOINT
IS, GET THE SHIP INTO POSITION
TO SNEAK UP BEHIND THESE GUYS
AND INTERCEPT THEM.
IN THIS CASE, THE NARCO-SUB
WAS A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES AWAY,
SO WE HAD TO BRING UP
OUR ENGINES,
WE BROUGHT OUR GAS TURBINE UP,
WHICH IS OUR SPRINTING ENGINE,
TO CLOSE THAT DISTANCE QUICKLY.
A GAS TURBINE IS A KIND OF
INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE
THAT'S A LOT LIKE A JET ENGINE
IN AN AIRCRAFT.
THE WAY IT WORKS IS THAT AIR
IS SUCKED INTO A COMPRESSOR
AND IS THEN MIXED WITH FUEL
BEFORE BEING IGNITED.
THIS EXPLOSION PRODUCE GASES
THAT ARE VERY HOT
AND UNDER HIGH PRESSURE,
WHICH ARE THEN CHANNELED
INTO A TURBINE
CAUSING IT TO SPIN
AND PRODUCE POWER.
Narrator: WITH THE HEAVY-DUTY
GAS TURBINES,
THE STRATTON CAN REACH
A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 30 KNOTS.
FOR US, THE GAS TURBINE
IS REAL USEFUL
FOR INTERCEPTING
DRUG TRAFFICKERS
BECAUSE WE CAN SPRINT
TO GET ON TOP OF THEM QUICKLY
AND CLOSE THAT DISTANCE.
Narrator:
THE CUTTER IS TRAVELING
THREE TO FOUR TIMES FASTER
THAN THE NARCO-SUB.
THEY TYPICALLY GO ABOUT 7 TO
10 MILES AN HOUR ON THE WATER.
THAT'S ABOUT THE SAME SPEED
AS A SLOW FISHING TRAWLER.
Narrator:
EVEN WITH THE POWERFUL TURBINES,
IT TAKES THE STRATTON 10 HOURS
TO REACH THE NARCO-SUB
UNDER COVER OF NIGHT.
A SPECIALLY-TRAINED
BOARDING CREW,
AKIN TO A SWAT TEAM,
PREPARES TO AMBUSH THE SUB.
Moore:
TO GET THE BOARDING TEAM OUT,
WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO IN ADVANCE
IS GET THEM TO DRESS OUT,
GET THEM TO PREPARE
WITH THE INFORMATION
OF WHERE THEY'RE GOING
AND WHAT THE CONDITIONS
ARE OUTSIDE ON THE WATER.
THESE ARE VERY
WELL-TRAINED FOLKS
THAT SPEND A LOT OF TIME
PRACTICING THE ART
OF GETTING ON
AND OFF SMALL BOATS.
WE VECTOR IN AS QUICKLY
AS WE CAN IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGHT
AND STAND OFF A LITTLE
SO THAT THE SHIP
IS NOT VISIBLE FROM THE WATER.
Narrator: THE CREW OF THE SUB
HAS NO IDEA
THEY'VE BEEN TRACKED DOWN.
AND CAPTAIN MOORE WANTS
TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
Moore: WHEN YOU PREPARE TO BOARD
A NARCO-SUB,
THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE
IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE TYPICALLY DO
COME UP BEHIND THEM
WITH THE INTENT
OF NOT BEING SEEN.
[ MAN SHOUTS IN SPANISH ]
Narrator:
AS U.S. AUTHORITIES
DEPLOY 21st CENTURY
SEARCH TECHNOLOGIES
TO CRACK DOWN
ON DRUG TRAFFICKING,
MODERN-DAY DRUG SMUGGLERS
HAVE COUNTERED
WITH SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE SUBMARINES
DESIGNED TO AVOID DETECTION.
ABOARD THE U.S. COAST GUARD
CUTTER STRATTON,
CAPTAIN MOORE AND HIS CREW
MUST AMBUSH THE NARCO-SUB
THEY'RE CHASING BEFORE
ITS CREW HAS A CHANCE
TO ACTIVATE THE SCUTTLING VALVES
AND DESTROY THE EVIDENCE.
A SCUTTLING VALVE
ALLOWS SEA WATER
DIRECTLY INTO THE HULL
OF THE NARCO-SUB.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
ONCE THE VALVE IS OPENED,
THE HULL QUICKLY BEGINS
TO FILL WITH SEA WATER.
Moore: WHEN WE GO TO INTERCEPT
THESE VESSELS,
THE IDEA IS TO SURPRISE THEM
AND GET ON BOARD
AND SEIZE THE VESSEL QUICKLY.
IF YOU DON'T DO THAT,
THEY WILL QUICKLY
OPEN THESE VALVES
AND ALLOW THE BOAT
TO SINK OUT FROM UNDER THEM
BEFORE YOU EVER HAVE
A CHANCE TO SEIZE IT.
THEY CAN SINK
WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES.
Narrator:
THE COAST GUARD BEGINS
ITS BOARDING OPERATION
AT FIRST LIGHT.
Moore: WE USED THE HELICOPTER
TO HELP US PINPOINT THE LOCATION
AND MAKE SURE THAT THE BOARDING
TEAM GOT ON SCENE QUICKLY.
WE FELT LIKE A DAWN
BOARDING WAS THE BEST IDEA,
TO CATCH THEM WHILE
THEY WERE STILL SLEEPING,
WHEN WE THOUGHT THEY WOULD
BE LEAST READY FOR US.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE,
THE NARCO-SUB'S
HATCH WAS LOCKED.
SO WHAT YOU HEAR
IS THE BOARDING OFFICER...
- [ SHOUTS IN SPANISH ]
- ...YELLING AT
THE GUYS INSIDE...
- [ SHOUTS IN SPANISH ]
- ...TO OPEN UP, TO COME OUT.
Man: AFUERA!
AFUERA! AFUERA!
Moore: WHEN THEY KNEW THEY
WERE CAUGHT, THEY GAVE UP.
Narrator:
THE RAID IS A SUCCESS.
THE COAST GUARD TAKES
ALL FOUR CREW MEMBERS
INTO CUSTODY,
WITH THE SUB AND ITS ILLEGAL
CONTENTS STILL INTACT.
WHEN THE BOARDING PARTIES
GET ON BOARD A NARCO-SUB,
WHAT THEY SEE WHEN
THEY LOOK DOWN BELOW
IS ROWS OF BAILS
OF COCAINE STACKED
AS FAR AS THEY CAN SEE,
ALL THE WAY UP
TO THE TOP OF THE BOAT.
THE AMOUNT OF DRUGS THAT THESE
NARCO-SUBS HOLD IS INCREDIBLE.
ALMOST 7,000 KILOGRAMS
OF PURE COCAINE.
THE COCAINE IS WRAPPED IN BAILS
THAT ARE PRETTY HEAVY.
THEY'RE ABOUT 50 POUNDS
EACH OF COCAINE PACKED HARD.
Narrator: EVEN WITH
THE DRUG RUNNERS APPREHENDED,
THE STRATTON'S JOB ISN'T DONE.
Moore: UNLOADING THE NARCO-SUBS
ARE VERY DANGEROUS.
WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE INHERENTLY
UNSTABLE JUST BY DESIGN.
SO WHEN YOU OPEN THE TOP
OF ONE OF THESE BOATS UP,
POTENTIALLY ALLOWING
THE WATER TO CRASH IN
AND SINK THEM AS THE BOAT
ROLLS BACK AND FORTH,
IT MAKES THINGS VERY DANGEROUS
FOR THE BOARDING TEAMS.
YOU DO HAVE TO PHYSICALLY
REMOVE THE BAILS
FROM THE NARCO-SUBS
ONE AT A TIME,
AND IT'S A VERY LABORIOUS,
ROUGH PROCESS.
IT'S REALLY HOT DOWN THERE
AND IT'S VERY HARD
TO MANEUVER
AND GET IN AND OUT
OF THESE SUBS SAFELY.
Narrator: THE CREW REMOVES
12,000 POUNDS OF COCAINE,
THE OTHER 4,000 LEFT ON BOARD
TO KEEP THE SUB STABLE.
WITH THE NARCOTICS SECURED,
THEY BEGIN TOWING THE VESSEL
TO SHORE AS EVIDENCE.
Moore: WE WERE ABLE TO TOW IT
FOR ABOUT 100 MILES
THROUGH THE NIGHT, VERY SLOWLY,
BUT THERE WAS A LEAK
AND WE LOST IT
IN ABOUT 13,000 FEET
DEEP WATER,
TO THE BOTTOM.
Narrator: ANY NEW INFORMATION
ABOUT TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES
IN THIS NARCO-SUB
IS LOST TO THE OCEAN.
AND INTERCEPTING THE SUBS
IS GETTING HARDER ALL THE TIME,
ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE CARTELS
ARE BEGINNING TO BUILD
FULLY-SUBMERSIBLE VESSELS.
THE DESIGNERS
OF THE NARCO-SUBMARINES
ARE GETTING BETTER
AND BETTER EACH AND EVERY YEAR
IN TERMS OF AVOIDING
THE AUTHORITIES.
WE NOW HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE
THAT NARCO-SUBMARINES
ARE BEING BUILT
FOR MULTIPLE TRIPS.
WE HAVE LOCATED
NARCO-SUBMARINES IN PRODUCTION
THAT HAVE SACRIFICIAL
ANODES ON THEM,
BASICALLY ZINC BARS,
THAT ATTRACT SALT WATER
AND KEEP THE SUBMARINE
FROM RUSTING AS QUICKLY
AS OTHERWISE MIGHT HAPPEN.
THE ONLY REASON THE DESIGNERS
WOULD BUILD THIS IS
FOR MULTIPLE TRIPS
IN SALT WATER.
WHAT STARTED OFF
AS LOW-PROFILE VEHICLES,
ARE NOW FULL-ON SUBMARINES
THAT ARE ABLE TO TRAVEL
GREAT DISTANCES UNDETECTED.
THEY'RE ABLE TO
TRAVEL UNDERWATER,
THE VAST MAJORITY
OF THE DISTANCE,
ALL THE WAY FROM COLOMBIA
TO LOS ANGELES.
THAT IS TRULY SCARY
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.
Narrator: THAT'S NOT THE ONLY
TERRIFYING THING.
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SUSPECTS
THAT THIS NEW GENERATION
OF NARCO-SUBS
COULD ALSO BE USED FOR SOMETHING
EVEN MORE DANGEROUS
THAN NARCOTICS.
THE REAL WORRY AMONG
NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERTS
IS NOT JUST THE DRUGS.
IT'S THE FACT
THAT NARCO-SUBMARINES
COULD BE USED TO TRANSPORT
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
Ramirez: SO, IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
TO UNDERSTAND
HOW THEY'RE USED,
HOW THEY'RE BUILT,
HOW THEY'RE DESIGNED,
AND WAYS TO TRY TO
COMBAT THEIR OPERATIONS,
AND OBVIOUSLY IMPROVE
THE ABILITY
TO FIND THEM
WHILE THEY'RE ON SEA.
Narrator: MAKING THE HUNT
FOR THE NARCO-SUBS
EVEN MORE URGENT.
Moore: WE KNOW THAT THE DRUG
TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS
ARE MULTI-NATIONAL CRIME
ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL.
THEY ARE CONDUCTING
MONEY LAUNDERING,
HUMAN SMUGGLING, CYBER
CRIME AND TERRORISM.
SO INTERCEPTING
THE DRUGS AT SEA HELPS
TO DISMANTLE THAT NETWORK
IN ALL ITS FORMS
OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY.
THE COAST GUARD
OPERATES SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT
IN THE DRUG-TRANSIT
ZONE CONTINUOUSLY.
WE'RE BRINGING NEWER ASSETS
TO THE FIGHT ALL THE TIME,
AND WE'LL BE ON STATION
LOOKING ALL THE TIME.
Narrator:
WHETHER ON SEA OR ON LAND,
TECHNOLOGY IN THE HANDS
OF A CRIMINAL MASTERMIND
CAN BE COSTLY AND DANGEROUS
TO LAW ENFORCEMENT,
ESPECIALLY WHEN
A COMBINATION OF TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING, AND CRIMINAL INTENT
IS USED TO ATTACK
ONE OF THE BEST
AND MOST EXPENSIVE
SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS AROUND...
CASINO SECURITY.
IN 2004, ARIZONA
BUSINESSMAN ADNAN ALISIC
IS SPENDING A LOT OF TIME
AT THE CASINO,
ALL UNDER THE HIGH-TECH
GLARE OF CASINO SECURITY.
MOST CASINOS HAVE VARIOUS
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SECURITY.
THEY HAVE
THE PHYSICAL SECURITY,
MEANING THERE'S ARMED GUARDS
WALKING AROUND,
PROTECTING THE CASH.
THEY ALSO HAVE UNDERCOVER
SECURITY GUARDS
WHO WOULD SIT AT
THE TABLE WITH YOU.
EVERY TABLE IS MONITORED
THROUGH CAMERAS,
SO THERE'S CC TV EVERYWHERE,
USUALLY MULTIPLE CAMERAS
MONITORING YOU.
AND THEN PEOPLE ARE MONITORED
AS THEY COME IN
AND OUT OF THE CASINO,
AND AROUND THE OUTSIDE
OF THE CASINO IS ALSO MONITORED.
Narrator: THE MONITORING IS
INTENSE AND ALL-ENCOMPASSING
BECAUSE OF THE SHEER AMOUNT
OF MONEY EXCHANGING HANDS.
CASINOS MUST HAVE ENOUGH CASH
TO COVER EVERY CHIP
IN PLAY ON THE FLOOR.
A SMALLER ESTABLISHMENT,
LIKE THE CASINO IN ARIZONA,
COULD HAVE UPWARDS
OF $20 MILLION ON SITE.
THE MONEY IS SAFELY STORED
AT TIGHTLY-CONTROLLED AREAS
WITHIN THE CASINO.
THERE IS THE CASHIER'S CAGE,
A HIGHLY-SECURE AREA
WHERE MONEY IS COUNTED AND CHIPS
AND TOKENS CAN BE
EXCHANGED FOR CASH.
THE CAGE IS MOST
OFTEN LOCATED AWAY
FROM THE CASINO ENTRANCES
AND EXITS,
MONITORED BY SECURITY
CAMERAS BEHIND BARS
AND SECURE, STEEL DOORS.
MONEY MOVES WITHIN
MOST CASINOS,
USUALLY TO AND FROM
THE COUNTING ROOMS,
UNDER ARMED GUARD
AND SOMETIMES OUT OF SIGHT
VIA PNEUMATIC TUBES,
WHILE THE BULK OF THE MONEY
IS KEPT IN THE CASINO VAULT.
AND SOME OF THAT MONEY
IS ADNAN ALISIC'S.
HE'S BEEN GOING TO THE CASINO
ALMOST EVERY NIGHT FOR MONTHS,
EVEN BORROWING MONEY
TO KEEP PLAYING.
ADNAN ALISIC IS
A BOSNIAN REFUGEE.
HE OWNED A COFFEE SHOP
IN GLENDALE,
AND HE ALSO OWNED
A USED-CAR SALES LOT.
HE WAS IN THE THROWS
OF A GAMBLING ADDICTION,
AND HE HAD LOST HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS,
CLOSE TO A MILLION, PLAYING
BLACKJACK AT THE CASINO ARIZONA.
Narrator: ONE NIGHT, THOUGH,
HIS LUCK STARTS TO TURN.
Rothbart: ADNAN WAS UP $50,000.
HE WAS STARTING
TO MAKE HIS COMEBACK.
HE WAS GONNA BE ABLE
TO PAY OFF DEBTS,
GET OUT OF TROUBLE
WITH HIS BUSINESSES,
PAY BACK PEOPLE
HE BORROWED MONEY FROM,
AND CONTINUED TO GAMBLE.
Narrator: BUT CASINO SECURITY
ISN'T HAPPY WITH ADNAN.
SO THOSE CC TVs THAT
ARE MONITORING PEOPLE COMING IN
AND OUT ARE ALSO MONITORING
EACH INDIVIDUAL AS THEY GAMBLE.
Narrator: ADNAN IS WINNING BIG,
AND IT'S SUSPICIOUS.
GO!
SECURITY GUARDS THROW HIM
OUT OF THE CASINO.
Rothbart: AND HE'S REALLY ANGRY.
HE'S SHOCKED.
I MEAN, THEY DIDN'T MIND
TAKING HIS MONEY,
BUT THE NIGHT
THAT HE STARTS WINNING BIG,
THEY KICK HIM OUT OF THERE.
Narrator:
ADNAN WANTS REVENGE.
Caldwell: ADNAN ALISIC DECIDED
THAT THE BEST WAY FOR HIM
TO GET HIS MONEY
BACK FROM THE CASINO
WAS TO ROB THE CASINO.
Narrator: BUT HOW?
THE CASINO IS ONE
OF THE BEST-PROTECTED
BUILDINGS IN PHOENIX.
Hilbert:
IT'S A VERY SECURE LOCATION
IN THAT THEY WANT TO PROTECT
THE MONEY THAT THEY'RE MAKING.
Narrator: THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT
IS TO KEEP IT ALL IN A SECURE VAULT.
THEY'RE PROTECTING THEIR MONEY
FROM A PHYSICAL ROBBERY,
SOMEBODY COMING IN
AND PULLING A GUN AND SAYING,
"GIVE ME ALL YOUR MONEY."
AT MOST CASINOS,
VAULTS ARE HOUSED
BEHIND MULTIPLE LAYERS
OF SECURITY.
THE DOORS ARE MADE OF STEEL.
ENTRANCES AND EXITS ARE TIMED,
AND THERE ARE MOTION
DETECTORS EVERYWHERE.
ADNAN IS DETERMINED TO DEFEAT
THE HIGH-TECH CASINO
SECURITY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
Rothbart: HE WAS DRIVING HOME
AND HE STOPPED TO TAKE A LEAK
ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,
AND AS HE PEERED
OVER THE GUARD RAIL,
HE SAW DOWN BELOW
WHAT LOOKED LIKE
THE OPEN MOUTH OF A TUNNEL.
Narrator: HE DECIDES
TO EXAMINE FURTHER.
Rothbart: AND AS HE POKES
HIS HEAD INSIDE,
HE SAW THAT THE TUNNEL
TURNED TO THE RIGHT
TOWARD THE CASINO ARIZONA.
A LIGHT CAME ON IN HIS HEAD.
HE KNEW HOW HE WAS
GONNA GET HIS MONEY BACK.
HE KNEW HOW HE COULD
PULL OFF A HEIST.
Narrator: CASINO SECURITY IS
THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
ONE VEGAS CASINO HAS OVER
2,000 SECURITY CAMERAS
INSTALLED,
WHILE IN OTHERS,
FACIAL RECOGNITION SOFTWARE
IS USED AT ENTRANCES AND EXITS.
SOME CASINOS EVEN
HAVE CHOKE POINTS,
AREAS WHERE HUMAN TRAFFIC
IS SLOWED DOWN
BY THE PLACEMENT
OF STRATEGIC OBSTACLES.
THESE CAREFULLY-DESIGNED
HUMAN TRAFFIC JAMS
ARE INTENDED TO SLOW DOWN
ANY KIND OF ESCAPE
AND TO PROVIDE SURVEILLANCE
WITH A NICE,
LONG LOOK AT ANYONE OF INTEREST.
DESPITE SOME OF THESE
HIGH-TECH PRECAUTIONS,
AFTER LOSING HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
AT THE CASINO,
ADNAN ALISIC THINKS
HE CAN OUTSMART THEM ALL
TO GET HIS REVENGE.
HE COMES UP WITH A PLAN
THAT WILL REQUIRE NOT JUST LUCK
BUT TECH AND ENGINEERING
KNOW-HOW TO SUCCEED.
Rothbart: ADNAN'S ORIGINAL IDEA
WAS TO FOLLOW THESE TUNNELS
UNDER THE CASINO,
TUNNEL UP RIGHT
UNDER THE BATHROOM.
HE WAS GONNA GO IN, SEIZE ALL
THE MONEY FROM THE CAGE,
IS WHAT THEY CALL IT,
WHERE ALL THE MONEY
THAT THE CASINO HAS IS HELD,
SOMETIMES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
RUN INTO THE BATHROOM,
BARRICADE HIMSELF IN THERE,
BLAST THROUGH INTO
THE SEWER TUNNELS
AND ESCAPE THAT WAY.
Narrator: BUT FIRST, HE NEEDS TO
FIGURE OUT WHICH OF THE TUNNELS
IN THIS MAZE LEADS
TO THE CASINO.
HE BEGINS A DETAILED EXPLORATION
AND MAPPING OF THE AREA.
ADNAN SPENT MONTHS EXPLORING
THE SEWER SYSTEM AROUND
AND BENEATH
THE CASINO ARIZONA.
HE AND HIS FRIEND FLEKA
WOULD SPEND HOURS
WITH FLASHLIGHTS.
THEY WOULD DROP GLOW STICKS
DOWN MANHOLE COVERS
AND SEWER GRATES
AROUND THE WHOLE AREA,
SO THAT WOULD HELP THEM
CREATE A MAP, THEREFORE,
OF THE SEWER TUNNELS THEMSELVES.
Narrator: BUT AS ADNAN MAKES HIS
WAY DEEPER INTO THE TUNNEL SYSTEM,
HE RUNS INTO OBSTACLES,
NAMELY NARROW SEWER LINES,
BLOCKING ACCESS
TO THE CASINO.
Caldwell: SO WHAT THEY DID WAS,
THEY USED A CUTTING TORCH
TO CUT INTO THE SEWER LINE,
CUTTING THROUGH A STEEL CASING,
AND THEN THROUGH A PVC PIPE.
Narrator: THE PIPE IS TOO NARROW
TO WALK THROUGH,
BUT ADNAN IS NOT
READY TO GIVE UP.
HE MASTERMINDS A RIG
TO ALLOW HIM
TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE TUNNELS.
Rothbart: HE HAD THIS
COMPLETELY NOVEL IDEA
ABOUT HOW TO EXPLORE
THESE VENTILATION SHAFTS.
HE HAD THIS
GAS-POWERED SKATEBOARD,
AND HE WAS GONNA SHOOT
DOWN THE VENTILATION SHAFT
HUNDREDS OF FEET,
DEEPER INTO THE CASINO.
THEY WOULD KIND OF LUGE THEIR
WAY DOWN THESE LONG TUNNELS.
I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY CRAZY
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
Hammack: THIS IS JUST LIKE
AN ORDINARY SKATEBOARD,
EXCEPT THAT IT'S POWERED
BY A TINY, GASOLINE ENGINE,
ABOUT 1/3 THE SIZE
OF A LAWN MOWER ENGINE.
IT CAN GO UP
TO 25 MILES PER HOUR,
WHICH IS PRETTY FAST
FOR A SKATEBOARD.
Narrator: IT MAY BE FAST,
BUT IT CAN ALSO BE DEADLY.
Rothbart: THE THING HE HADN'T
REALLY ANTICIPATED WAS THE EXHAUST
THAT WOULD COME OUT
OF THIS GAS-POWERED SKATEBOARD.
RUNNING A GASOLINE ENGINE
IN A CONFINED SPACE
WITH NO VENTILATION,
LIKE A SEWER,
IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.
THE ENGINE IS PRODUCING
EXHAUST FUMES
THAT CONTAIN CARBON MONOXIDE,
A POISONOUS GAS
THAT CAN BE FATAL
IF YOU BREATHE
A LOT OF IT IN.
THE WAY THAT CARBON
MONOXIDE KILLS YOU
IS THAT IT GETS INTO YOUR LUNGS
AND GETS ABSORBED
BY THE HEMOGLOBIN
IN YOUR RED BLOOD CELLS,
DISPLACING THE OXYGEN THAT IS
NORMALLY CARRIED BY THESE CELLS.
SO THAT, AS YOU BREATHE
IN CARBON MONOXIDE,
YOUR BODY IS GETTING LESS
AND LESS OXYGEN
UNTIL YOU EVENTUALLY
LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS AND DIE.
IT'S A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.
Rothbart:
WHEN YOU'RE HUNDREDS OF FEET
DOWN SOME TINY
VENTILATION SHAFT,
THE SMOKE JUST
COLLECTED AROUND HIM.
HE ALMOST DIED
INHALING THESE FUMES.
HE WAS ON THE VERGE
OF LOSING CONSCIOUSNESS,
AND HE WAS ABLE
TO JUST FIGHT IT OFF
AND GET HIS WAY
BACK OUT OF THE TUNNEL.
ADNAN IS A FOCUSED DUDE,
AND WHEN HE HAS HIS MIND
MAKE UP ABOUT SOMETHING,
HE'S GONNA FIND
A WAY TO DO IT.
Narrator: NO MATTER WHAT, HE'S
DETERMINED TO PULL OFF THE BIGGEST
AND MOST SPECTACULAR ROBBERY
THAT PHOENIX HAS EVER SEEN.
Rothbart: IT'S ONE OF THE MOST,
LIKE, CRAZY, INGENIOUS,
INNOVATIVE, AND AMBITIOUS CAPERS
I'VE EVER HEARD OF.
Narrator: BUT ADNAN HASN'T FOUND
HIS WAY INTO THE CASINO YET.
Rothbart:
THEY KEPT HITTING DEAD ENDS.
THEY COULDN'T FIND THEIR WAY
UNDERNEATH THE CASINO.
HE DECIDED TO ABANDON
THAT IDEA
AND CAME UP WITH ANOTHER.
Narrator: INSTEAD OF ROBBING
THE CASINO ITSELF,
HE'LL TARGET THE ARMORED TRUCK
THAT DELIVERS CASH
TO THE CASINO'S ATMs
EVERY MORNING
AND ESCAPE THROUGH THE TUNNELS
HE'S SO CAREFULLY MAPPED OUT.
NOW THERE ARE NEW OBSTACLES
TO OVERCOME,
INCLUDING THE ARMORED
TRUCK ITSELF.
AN ARMORED TRUCK IS A MASSIVE,
METAL BOX MOUNTED
ON WHEELS, HIGHLY-ENGINEERED,
WITH ONE OBJECT IN MIND...
TO KEEP THE CONTENTS
OF THE TRUCK SECURE.
THE WALLS, FLOOR,
CEILING, AND DOORS
ARE ALL MADE FROM
BULLET-RESISTANT STEEL.
THE WINDOWS,
WHICH DO NOT ROLL DOWN,
ARE BULLET-PROOF.
TIRES CAN BE ARMORED
WITH A U-SHAPED,
HARD PLASTIC LINER.
IF A TIRE DEFLATES, IT CAN
STILL RUN FOR SEVERAL MILES.
IN AN ARMORED CAR,
YOU HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES.
YOU HAVE THE DRIVER,
WHO IS ARMED,
AND YOU HAVE WHAT
THEY CALL "THE HOPPER,"
WHO SITS IN THE BACK
WITH THE MONEY, AND HE'S ARMED.
THEY'RE ARMED FOR A REASON,
AND THAT'S TO PROTECT
THEMSELVES AND THE MONEY.
Narrator: WHAT ADNAN HAS
REALIZED IS THAT AN ARMORED TRUCK
AND ITS CONTENTS
ARE MOST VULNERABLE
WHEN THE GUARDS ARE
OUTSIDE THE TRUCK,
EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE WEAPONS.
Rothbart: ARMORED-TRUCK ROBBERIES
ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
ARMORED-TRUCK DRIVERS
CARRY GUNS.
THEY ARE TAUGHT
TO PULL THEIR GUN
AND FIRE IT, YOU KNOW,
WHEN THEY'RE ATTACKED.
MOST ARMORED-TRUCK ROBBERIES
HAVE GONE VERY BADLY,
AND THEY'VE OFTEN ENDED UP
WITH THE PERSON
TRYING TO PULL OFF
THE CRIME BEING SHOT
AND SOMETIMES KILLED.
ADNAN WASN'T DETERRED.
Narrator: TO ADNAN,
THE SEWERS WILL PROVIDE
A PERFECT ESCAPE ROUTE
FROM THE ARMORED TRUCKS
UNLOADING IN FRONT
OF THE CASINO ATMs.
Rothbart:
THIS PLAN WAS GENIUS.
TO PULL OFF ANY HEIST
OF THIS MAGNITUDE
TAKES NOT JUST
GUTS, BUT ALSO BRAINS.
Narrator: SHORTLY AFTER DAWN
ON JULY 21, 2006,
AN ARMORED TRUCK PULLS UP
IN THE ALLEYWAY
BEHIND THE CASINO
TARGETED BY ADNAN ALISIC.
Caldwell: THERE WAS MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN THE ARMORED CAR.
THEY HAVE A ROUTE
AND THEY DELIVER MONEY
TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS,
AND WHERE THE ROBBERY OCCURRED
WAS EARLY ON IN THEIR ROUTE.
THE HOPPER WAS OUT
OF THE VEHICLE UNLOADING MONEY
TO RELOAD THE ATM MACHINES
WITHIN THE CASINO.
AND AT THAT TIME,
AS HE WAS DOING THAT,
A VAN PULLED UP
BEHIND THE ARMORED CAR.
Narrator: INGENIOUS WOULD-BE
ROBBER ADNAN ALISIC
HAS DECIDED TO EXPLOIT
THE ARMORED CAR'S
SECURITY WEAKNESS,
NAMELY THAT IT'S MOST
VULNERABLE TO ATTACK
WHEN THE GUARDS
ARE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE.
HE AND HIS FRIEND
FLEKA GET READY.
Caldwell: ONE INDIVIDUAL WAS
WEARING A JUMPSUIT,
AND HE HAD LARGE CANS
OF PEPPER SPRAY.
HE APPROACHED THE HOPPER
AS HE WAS UNLOADING THE MONEY,
SPRAYED HIM
WITH THE PEPPER SPRAY,
INCAPACITATING HIM.
Narrator:
PEPPER SPRAY IN NON-LETHAL,
BUT CAN INCAPACITATE
A PERSON ANYWHERE
FROM A FEW MINUTES
TO AN HOUR OR SO.
PEPPER SPRAY IS DERIVED
FROM THE CHEMICAL
COMPOUND CAPSAICIN,
THE ACTIVE COMPONENT
OF CHILI PEPPERS
THAT MAKES THEM HOT.
IF THE PEPPER SPRAY
DOESN'T DO THE TRICK,
THE DUO HAD SOMETHING
ELSE THAT WILL.
THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAD
WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN AK-47.
AFTER THEY GRABBED
THE MONEY BAG,
THEY THREW IT BACK IN THE VAN,
AND THEY TOOK OFF.
Narrator:
ADNAN AND FLEKA GET AWAY
WITH NEARLY THREE QUARTERS
OF A MILLION DOLLARS
WITHOUT FIRING A SHOT.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
WITHIN MINUTES,
POLICE GET REPORTS
THAT THE GETAWAY VAN IS STOPPED
AT AN INTERSECTION TWO BLOCKS
AWAY FROM THE CASINO.
Rothbart: THE VAN STOPPED
ON TOP A MANHOLE COVER.
WITNESSES SAW A HAND COME OUT
AND THROW OUT A GRENADE.
INITIALLY, THE WITNESS
THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE A REAL,
LIVE, EXPLOSIVE GRENADE.
AND THEN IT WENT OFF
AND IT WAS RELEASING SMOKE.
AND THEN, THROUGH THE SMOKE,
THEY COULD SEE FEET
COMING OUT
FROM UNDERNEATH THE VAN.
Hammack:
THE WAY A SMOKE GRENADE WORKS
IS THAT A FUSE IGNITES CHEMICALS
KNOWN AS A STARTER MIXTURE.
THIS GENERATES ENOUGH HEAT
TO IGNITE THE FILLER,
WHICH IS MADE UP OF SOME
OF THE SAME COMPONENTS
AS YOU GET IN FIREWORKS
OR MATCHES.
AFTER APPROXIMATELY
30 SECONDS OR SO,
THE VAN THEN TOOK OFF.
Narrator: POLICE INVESTIGATE.
UPON ARRIVING AT THAT
INTERSECTION,
WE FOUND AN AK-47
THAT WAS BROKEN INTO PIECES.
AND UPON INSPECTION
OF THE AK-47,
WE DETERMINED IT
WAS A PLASTIC TOY.
Narrator: IT LOOKS LIKE THE AK-47
THAT WAS USED IN THE HEIST.
AS THEY SEARCHED THE AREA,
POLICE MAKE
A SURPRISING DISCOVERY.
Narrator: AND AS WE STARTED
TO LOOK AT THE AREA,
WE'RE NOTICING THE MANHOLE COVER
THEY STOPPED OVER TOP.
IT WASN'T LIKE A NORMAL
STREET MANHOLE COVER WOULD BE.
IT ALMOST LOOKED LIKE IT
WAS A FABRICATED COPY OF ONE.
Hilbert: FOR WHATEVER REASON,
IT'S BEEN JAMMED,
AND THE MANHOLE COVER
IS STUCK IN PLACE.
WHAT WE BELIEVE IS,
WHEN CARS RAN OVER IT,
IT KIND OF BUCKLED IT
A LITTLE BIT
AND KIND OF WEDGED
IT IN A LITTLE.
WHAT THEY TRIED TO DO WAS USE
THAT PLASTIC AK-47
AS A CROWBAR, IF YOU WILL.
IT DIDN'T WORK.
IT SNAPPED.
WE PRIED OPEN THE MANHOLE COVER,
AND AS SOON AS WE LIFTED IT OFF,
IT WAS EVIDENT IT WAS NOT
A STANDARD-ISSUE MANHOLE COVER.
IT WAS THINNER THAN
A REGULAR MANHOLE COVER,
AND IT HAD EYE BOLTS WELDED
TO THE BOTTOM OF IT
WITH ROPES HANGING DOWN,
AND THERE WAS ALSO A WOODEN
LADDER PROPPED UP
UNDERNEATH TO GO DOWN
INSIDE THE MANHOLE.
INITIALLY, OUR REACTION WAS,
"OKAY, WHY WERE THEY TRYING
TO GET DOWN IN HERE?
THERE'S A REASON WHY
THEY WANTED TO GET DOWN.
WAS IT TO USE THAT
AS AN AVENUE OF ESCAPE?"
Narrator: WHEN POLICE GO DOWN
INTO THE MANHOLE,
THEY DISCOVER AN ATV PARKED
INSIDE THE SEWER, READY TO GO.
Rothbart: THEY REALIZED THEY'D
STUMBLED UPON THE GETAWAY PLAN,
THAT THESE ARMORED-TRUCK ROBBERS
WERE PLANNING
TO GET AWAY THROUGH
THE SEWER SYSTEM AND DISAPPEAR.
Narrator: BUT WITH THE ATV
STILL IN THE SEWER,
IT'S CLEAR TO POLICE
THAT SOMETHING
MUST HAVE GONE WRONG
WITH THE ESCAPE PLAN.
THEY RECEIVE A REPORT
THE GETAWAY VAN HAS BEEN
SPOTTED NOT FAR AWAY.
THEY SET OFF IN HOT PURSUIT.
Caldwell:
THEY CAUGHT UP TO THE VAN,
GOT INTO A PURSUIT
WITH THE VAN,
AND THEN, EVENTUALLY,
THE SUBJECTS TRIED TO ABANDON
THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT.
THAT'S WHEN ONE OF
THE SUBJECTS WAS APPREHENDED,
AND THE OTHER SUBJECT
GOT AWAY ON FOOT.
Narrator: THE MAN CAUGHT
BY POLICE IS ISMAR KABAKLIC,
BETTER KNOWN AS "FLEKA."
Caldwell: HE BASICALLY CONFESSED
WHAT THE PLAN WAS
AND HOW IT WAS
SUPPOSED TO SET OFF
AND WHY IT WAS COMMITTED.
HE BASICALLY HAD
TOLD US EVERYTHING.
HE IDENTIFIED ADNAN ALISIC
AS THE PERSON
WHO CAME UP WITH THE IDEA
TO ROB THE CASINO.
Rothbart: HE WENT BACK HOME TO
WHERE HE LIVED WITH HIS MOM AND SISTER,
AND BEFORE HE COULD
TAKE OFF AGAIN,
THE COPS HAD SURROUNDED IT,
AND ADNAN WAS CAPTURED
BEFORE THE DAY WAS DONE.
Narrator:
WITH THE MEN IN CUSTODY,
POLICE LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE ELABORATE
AND INGENIOUS PREPARATIONS
THAT ADNAN AND FLEKA
HAD MADE FOR THEIR ESCAPE
INTO THE SEWER,
PLANS THEY NEVER GOT
TO PUT INTO ACTION.
THE SMOKE GRENADE WAS MEANT
TO SET UP A SMOKE SCREEN
SO THAT AS ADNAN
AND HIS FRIEND DISAPPEARED
INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM,
NO ONE AROUND THE VAN COULD SEE.
Narrator:
TO THROW OFF THE POLICE,
ADNAN HAD PLANNED TO USE
A BLOWUP DOLL AS A DECOY.
Rothbart: THE IDEA WAS TO PLACE
THIS BLOWUP DOLL
BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE VAN
WITH A FAKE AK-47
IN ITS ARMS
TO CREATE A STANDOFF.
THE POLICE WOULDN'T
WANT TO RUSH THE VAN
AS LONG AS THEY THOUGHT
SOMEBODY WAS SITTING THERE
WITH A SKI MASK
AND AN AK-47.
Narrator:
THEY HAD OTHER BIG PLANS, TOO.
ADNAN HAD SPECIALLY RIGGED
THE VAN SO ONCE THEY GOT AWAY,
IT WOULD DRIVE OFF
AND CRASH INTO THE WALL.
HE HAD A ROPE-AND-PULLEY SYSTEM
THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CAR
TO GO INTO DRIVE,
AND THE CAR WOULD
GO FLYING FORWARD
AND SLAM INTO SOMETHING
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
Narrator:
THE FINISHING TOUCH...
A PAIR OF CANISTERS
FILLED WITH GASOLINE
AND ATTACHED TO A FUSE.
Rothbart: AS THEY DISAPPEARED
DOWN INTO THE SEWER,
THE GAS CANISTERS
WOULD LIGHT ON FIRE
AND SET OFF A GIANT BLAZE.
Narrator: THE EVIDENCE WOULD
HAVE BEEN DESTROYED IN THE FIRE,
WHILE THE POLICE
WOULD BE DISTRACTED
LONG ENOUGH FOR THE GETAWAY.
Caldwell: THAT WOULD ALLOW
THE TIME THEN TO DRIVE UNSEEN,
UNDERGROUND, AND COME UP
ANOTHER MANHOLE COVER,
SLIP INTO ANOTHER VAN THAT
WAS SITTING THERE READY,
AND DRIVE OFF WITHOUT
ANYBODY EVER SEEING THEM.
Narrator: BUT THE PLAN HIT A
SNAG WHEN ADNAN AND FLEKA
WEREN'T ABLE TO OPEN
THEIR REPLICA MANHOLE COVER.
IT WAS ALMOST MORE OF A COMEDY
THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
Narrator:
ON MARCH 31, 2008,
ADNAN ALISIC IS SENTENCED
TO 17 1/2 YEARS
IN A FEDERAL PENITENTIARY
FOR ARMED ROBBERY,
WHILE FLEKA GETS A LESSER
SENTENCE OF 6 1/2 YEARS.
NOW THAT YEARS HAVE PASSED,
ADNAN FEELS REPENTANT
ABOUT THE CRIME.
HE UNDERSTANDS THAT
HE TRAUMATIZED THESE GUARDS.
THEY WERE AFRAID
FOR THEIR LIVES,
ALTHOUGH THEY WERE IN
NO REAL DANGER FROM HIM.
HE WAS IN THE THROWS
OF A GAMBLING ADDICTION,
AND IT MADE HIM DO SOMETHING
THAT HE NEVER IMAGINED
HE WOULD DO.
EYE OF U.S. MILITARY SURVEILLANCE,
MODERN-DAY DRUG LORDS
LAUNCH A NARCO-SUB
DESIGNED TO ESCAPE DETECTION.
Moore:
IT IS A CAT-AND-MOUSE GAME.
THEY CAN SINK
WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
AND THAT IS TRULY SCARY
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.
Narrator: A VENGEFUL GAMBLER
PUTS HIS ENGINEERING SKILLS
TO THE TEST AGAINST
A CASINO ARMED
WITH TOP-NOTCH SECURITY.
Rothbart:
A LIGHT CAME ON IN HIS HEAD.
HE KNEW HOW HE COULD PULL OFF
A HEIST.
Narrator: THIS MASTERMIND
ALSO CRACKED AN ESCAPE ROUTE
THAT COULD BE HIS UNDOING.
Hammack: THE ENGINE IS
PRODUCING EXHAUST FUMES
THAT COULD BE FATAL
IF YOU BREATHE A LOT OF IT IN.
IT'S A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.
Narrator: TECHNOLOGY... IT'S A
NEW, WIDE-OPEN, WILD WEST.
WITH ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES,
FROM HIGH-TECH HEISTS
TO REAL-LIFE HACKS
TO THE REACHES OF CYBERSPACE,
TECHNOLOGY IS THE LATEST WEAPON
IN THE WAR BETWEEN
MODERN-DAY CROOKS
AND CUTTING-EDGE COPS.
IN THE WRONG HANDS,
TECHNOLOGY CAN BE CRIMINAL.
NEARLY 50 YEARS AFTER THE U.S.
WAR ON DRUGS WAS DECLARED,
SMUGGLING NARCOTICS
AROUND THE GLOBE
HAS EVOLVED FROM USING SIMPLE
DRUG MULES TO ENGINEERING
SPECIALLY-BUILT VEHICLES
TO CARRY ILLICIT GOODS.
AT THE SAME TIME,
SEARCHING FOR THOSE DRUGS
HAS MOVED LIGHT YEARS
BEYOND BORDER INSPECTIONS,
DOG SNIFFERS,
AND STRIP SEARCHES.
TO COUNTER THE LATEST
IN DRUG-RUNNING DESIGN,
BOTH THE U.S. COAST GUARD
AND U.S. NAVY
USE CUTTING-EDGE SURVEILLANCE
AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES
TO CATCH MODERN-DAY
DRUG BARONS IN THE ACT.
BUT AS AUTHORITIES HAVE
STEPPED UP THE PRESSURE,
SO, TOO, HAVE UNDERWORLD
DRUG SMUGGLERS,
LEADING TO A HIGH-TECH GAME OF
HIDE-AND-SEEK ON THE HIGH SEAS.
IN JULY, 2015, NAVY
HIGH-TECH RECONNAISSANCE,
INCLUDING THE LATEST
IN RADAR TECHNOLOGY...
CAPTAIN.
...ALERTS U.S. COAST GUARD
CAPTAIN NATE MOORE
THAT A VALUABLE TARGET
HAS BEEN FOUND...
THE ELUSIVE NARCO-SUB.
ROGER. LET'S PLOT A COURSE
TO INTERCEPT.
Moore: WHEN WE FIRST GOT WORD
OF THE NARCO-SUB BEING SPOTTED,
IT WAS QUITE AN EXCITING
TIME FOR US,
BECAUSE THIS WAS THE UNICORN.
THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT WE KNEW WAS OUT THERE,
BUT WE HAD NEVER SEEN ONE.
A NARCO-SUBMARINE REFERS
TO A SELF-PROPELLED
SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE,
WHICH IS AN OCEAN-GOING VEHICLE
THAT TRANSPORTS
LARGE AMOUNTS
OF COCAINE
FROM SOUTH AMERICA
TO CENTRAL AMERICA
OR NORTH AMERICA.
Moore: ANY VESSEL AT SEA
THAT HAS NO PURPOSE OTHER
THAN SMUGGLING IS,
BY DEFINITION, ILLEGAL,
AND CARRIES A PENALTY OF UP
TO 15 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON.
AND THE WAY WE KNOW
THEY'RE ILLEGAL IS
BECAUSE THEY DON'T
HAVE RUNNING LIGHTS,
THEY HAVE NO
NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT.
THE NARCO-SUBS DON'T LOOK
LIKE THE SUBS YOU SEE ON TV.
THEY'RE NOT GIANT,
METAL MISSILES
GOING THROUGH THE WATER.
Moore: THEY ARE VERY FRAGILE.
THEY'RE MADE OUT
OF WOOD AND FIBERGLASS.
THEY'RE NOT BUILT TO
ANY GOVERNMENT SAFETY STANDARDS,
SO THEY'RE DANGEROUS.
Ramirez: OVER TIME, DRUG-TRAFFICKING
ORGANIZATIONS HAVE EVOLVED.
THEY'VE BECOME MORE STRATEGIC
AND MORE TACTICAL
AND MORE RESOURCEFUL.
AND BECAUSE OF THIS
ABILITY TO ADAPT
AND TO BE INNOVATIVE,
THEY'VE BECOME VERY DANGEROUS
TO LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND TO SOCIETY.
IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT
TO STOP NARCO-SUBMARINES.
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
READILY ADMITS
THAT IS ONLY CAPTURING ABOUT 15%
OF THE NARCO-SUBMARINES
THAT MAKE THEIR WAY
TO THE UNITED STATES.
AND THAT IS A REAL
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE.
Narrator: THE NARCO-SUB
CAPTAIN MOORE IS HUNTING
BEGAN ITS JOURNEY
A FEW DAYS EARLIER
IN THE MANGROVE SWAMPS
OF NORTHERN COLOMBIA.
Hammack: THE SUBS ARE BUILT
WITH A WOOD FRAME
COVERED WITH FIBERGLASS
TO MAKE IT WATERPROOF.
IT'S A VERY SIMPLE DESIGN.
THERE'S A DIESEL ENGINE,
USUALLY FROM A TRACTOR TRAILER,
SIMPLE LIGHTING,
AND A BALLAST TANK
THAT CAN BE FILLED WITH WATER
TO MAKE IT FLOAT LOW
IN THE WATER.
THERE'S A TINY CABIN
WHERE THE CAPTAIN SITS,
WITH A STEERING WHEEL,
A GPS FOR NAVIGATION,
AND A SATELLITE PHONE TO KEEP
IN CONTACT WITH THE CARTELS.
Narrator: CARTELS...
CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS
THAT TRAFFIC IN
ILLEGAL NARCOTICS...
CRAFT THE NARCO-SUBS
USING INGENIOUS
BUT VERY SIMPLE TECHNOLOGY,
ALL TO SMUGGLE DRUGS
INTO THE U.S.
Moore: THE NARCO-SUBS
TYPICALLY TRAVEL
500 TO 1,000 MILES
IN OPEN WATER
TO TRY TO GET
TO THEIR LANDING POINT.
IT TAKES THEM DAYS
TO MAKE THE JOURNEY,
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE LIVING ON ONE
OF THESE THINGS
FOR THAT MUCH TIME,
WITH NO WAY TO GO
TO THE BATHROOM,
NO VENTILATION, AND NOWHERE
TO REALLY SLEEP.
THEY ARE BASICALLY
JUST DESIGNED SIMPLY DESIGNED
FOR A ONE-WAY SHIPMENT
OF AS MUCH DRUGS
AS THEY CAN PACK
INTO THE BOAT.
EARLY ON, NARCO-SUBMARINES,
OR LOW-PROFILE VEHICLES,
WERE MEANT FOR ONE SINGLE TRIP.
THEY WERE MEANT
TO DELIVER A LOAD,
AND THEN THEY WOULD
ULTIMATELY BE SCUTTLED.
THEY WOULD BE SENT
TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA
AFTER OFFLOADING THE COCAINE.
Narrator: THE NARCO-SUB
THEY'RE TRACKING IS THOUGHT
TO HAVE A CARGO
OF 16,000 POUNDS OF COCAINE,
7 TONS, WITH A STREET VALUE
OF $181 MILLION.
Vincent: NARCO-SUBS ARE RUMORED
TO CARRY APPROXIMATELY 30%
OF ALL COCAINE
FROM SOUTH AMERICA
INTO NORTH AMERICA.
Narrator: MILES AWAY AT
COMALAPA AIR BASE IN EL SALVADOR,
A U.S. NAVY P-3 ORION MARITIME
SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT
TAKES OFF ON A ROUTINE PATROL.
Hilbert: THE ORION P-3
IS A SUB HUNTER.
IT IS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY
FOR LONG-RANGE
RECONNAISSANCE OVER THE OCEAN
TO IDENTIFY SUBS.
Moore:
THE ADVANTAGE OF AIRCRAFT
IS THAT THEY COVER
A MUCH WIDER AREA
AND MOVE QUICKLY TO LOOK
FOR TARGETS ON THE WATER.
Narrator:
THE P-3 WAS DEVELOPED
TO DETECT SOVIET-MISSILE
SUBMARINES.
Hammack: IT WAS AN INCREDIBLY
EFFECTIVE WEAPON DURING THE COLD WAR,
AND IT'S BEEN IN CONSTANT USE
IN OTHER CONFLICT ZONES
SINCE THEN...
IN THE PERSIAN GULF,
AFGHANISTAN AND NORTH KOREA.
Narrator: THE P-3 IS CURRENTLY
ONE OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S
MOST FORMIDABLE WEAPONS
AGAINST DRUG SMUGGLERS.
Hammack: THE P-3 IS
A TECHNOLOGICAL MARVEL.
IT COULD HUNT FOR SUBMARINES
USING A VARIETY
OF HIGH-TECH SENSORS...
INFRARED CAMERAS, RADAR,
SONAR, AND MAGNETIC
ANOMALY DETECTION.
A MAGNETOMETER DETECTS
SMALL CHANGES
IN THE EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD...
ANYTHING WITH IRON IN IT.
IT'S LOCATED ON THE TIP
OF A BOOM THAT PROJECTS
FROM THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT.
AND YOU CAN USE IT
TO PINPOINT THE LOCATION
OF A SUBMERGED SUBMARINE,
BUT ONLY IF THAT
SUBMARINE CONTAINS
A LOT OF IRON AND STEEL.
Narrator: BUT THE NARCO-SUB
IS NOT MADE OF THESE MATERIALS.
THE WOOD-AND-FIBERGLASS
VESSEL IS SPECIFICALLY
DESIGNED TO DEFEAT
MAGNETIC ANOMALY DETECTION.
THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING
THAT MAKES THE SUB
CHALLENGING TO TRACK.
THE SHEER SIZE OF
THE SEARCH AREA ALSO MAKES
FOR A NEAR-IMPOSSIBLE TASK.
IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC,
THE DRUG-TRAFFIC ZONE
IS APPROXIMATELY
6 MILLION SQUARE MILES.
WE HAVE A CONTINUOUS PRESENCE
IN THE DRUG-TRANSIT ZONE.
THERE ARE SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT
UP THERE EVERY DAY,
ALL THE TIME.
Narrator:
BUT EVEN WITHOUT THE ABILITY
TO DETECT THE SUB
WITH ITS MAGNETOMETER,
THE P-3 SEARCH IS BASED
ON INTELLIGENCE REPORTS
THAT A SUB IS DOWN
THERE SOMEWHERE.
MOST NARCO-SUBMARINES
HAVE BEEN CAPTURED
BECAUSE THE LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
HAVE MONITORED CELLULAR
COMMUNICATIONS IN A WAY
THAT LEADS THEM TO BELIEVE
WHERE A SUBMARINE
IS GOING TO BE
DEPARTING FROM,
ON WHAT DATE, AND WHERE
ITS ULTIMATE DESTINATION IS.
Narrator:
BUT THAT INTEL IS ONLY
THE STARTING POINT
FOR THIS HIGH-TECH HUNT.
TO LOCATE THE NARCO-SUB,
THE P-3 CREW STARTS BY SEARCHING
FOR ONE SIMPLE, SPECIFIC CLUE.
THE EASIEST WAY TO SEE SOMETHING
IN THE WATER, TYPICALLY,
IS YOU SEE THE WAKE
THAT MOVES BEHIND IT.
THE WHITE WAKE OF FOAM...
THAT CAN EASILY BE
SPOTTED FROM THE AIR.
Narrator: EXCEPT IF WHAT YOU'RE
LOOKING FOR ISN'T VERY LARGE.
Hammack: THE NARCO-SUB IS
40 FEET LONG FROM END TO END,
WHICH IS SLIGHTLY LONGER
THAN THE AVERAGE SCHOOL BUS.
IT'S A VERY SMALL ITEM
TO BE LOOKING FOR
IN THE MIDDLE OF A BIG OCEAN.
Narrator: BUT THE MERE HUMAN EYE
CAN ONLY SEE SO FAR.
TO LOCATE THE NARCO-SUB,
THE P-3 DEPLOYS THE LATEST
IN RADAR TECHNOLOGY,
WHICH CAN DETECT OBJECTS
NO MATTER WHAT THEY'RE MADE OF.
Hammack: RADAR WORKS BY BOUNCING
HIGH-FREQUENCY RADIO
WAVES OFF OBJECTS
AND ANALYZING CHANGES
IN THOSE WAVES
WHEN THEY BOUNCE BACK.
Narrator: AS OPPOSED TO SONAR,
RADAR ONLY WORKS
WHEN AN OBJECT IS ABOVE WATER.
THE NARCO-SUB
DOESN'T SUBMERGE COMPLETELY,
SO A PORTION OF IT
IS ABOVE WATER AT ALL TIMES.
Moore: WE EMIT A RADAR SIGNAL.
ANY STRUCTURE ON THE WATER,
INCLUDING A BOAT,
THEN RETURNS A PORTION
OF THAT SIGNAL.
SO, RADAR DOES NOT GIVE YOU
A VISUAL PICTURE
OF WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT,
BUT IT DOES GIVE YOU
A RELATIVE LOCATION.
Narrator: AS THE RADAR
SWEEPS THE AREA,
THE DRUG RUNNERS DO THEIR BEST
TO STAY HIDDEN BY RIDING
AS LOW AS THEY CAN.
THEY ARE HARD
TO DETECT ON RADAR,
BASED ON THEIR LOW SIGNATURE.
Narrator: BUT THE HIGH-TECH
SEARCH IS JUST GETTING STARTED.
IT IS A CAT-AND-MOUSE GAME.
Narrator: THE U.S. NAVY AND U.S.
COAST GUARD ARE ON THE FRONT LINES
OF THE WAR ON DRUGS,
AS THEY USE HIGH-TECH
SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT TO TRACK
AND STOP ILLEGAL NARCO-SUBS.
BUT THE NARCO-SUBS ARE BUILT
SPECIFICALLY TO EVADE THEM.
THE NARCO-SUBS ARE DESIGNED
WITH LOW FREEBOARD,
WHICH MEAN THAT
THE AMOUNT OF THE BOAT
ABOVE THE WATER IS VERY SMALL.
SO, MUCH LIKE AN ICEBERG,
WHERE THE MAJORITY
OF WHAT KEEPS THE THING AFLOAT
IS DOWN BELOW THE WATER LINE,
THAT LOW FREEBOARD TACTICALLY
MAKES THEM HARD TO FIND,
BUT ALSO MAKES
THEM VERY UNSTABLE
AND VERY DANGEROUS TO OPERATE.
Narrator: BALLAST IS WHAT MAKES
THE NARCO-SUB RIDE SO LOW.
Hammack: BALLAST IS WEIGHT THAT
YOU INCORPORATE IN THE DESIGN
OF A SEA-GOING VESSEL
TO MAKE IT STABLE,
SO IT DOESN'T
TIP OVER EASILY.
BUT IN THE CASE
OF THE NARCO-SUBS,
THEY ALSO USE BALLASTS
FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
THE SUB HAS TWO BALLAST TANKS
THAT ARE FILLED WITH WATER,
AND THESE BALLAST TANKS
ADD SO MUCH WEIGHT TO THE VESSEL
THAT IT PULLS IT
DOWN INTO THE WATER
SO THAT IT FLOATS
JUST AT THE WATER LINE,
MAKING IT ALMOST INVISIBLE.
NOW, TO DEMONSTRATE,
IF YOU CAN IMAGINE
THIS PLASTIC BOTTLE
IS THE NARCO-SUB...
THE BOTTLE IS FULL OF WATER,
SO IT'S SUBMERGED.
BUT, IF YOU EMPTY
THE BALLAST TANK,
OUR BALLOON HERE,
BY SLOWLY PUSHING OUT THE WATER
AND FILLING IT WITH AIR...
...YOU CAN GET IT TO RISE
UNTIL IT'S FLOATING
JUST BELOW THE SURFACE,
EXACTLY LIKE A NARCO-SUB.
FOR THE NARCO-SUB TO DIVE,
THE BALLAST TANK
MUST BE FILLED WITH WATER.
TO FLOAT, THE TANK
MUST BE FILLED WITH AIR.
Narrator: IN THE AIR,
THE SUB HUNT CONTINUES.
THE P-3 CAN ONLY FLY
FOR 10 HOURS
BEFORE IT MUST REFUEL.
DOWN BELOW, THE UNSUSPECTING
NARCO-SUB CAPTAIN
KEEPS UP THE EVASIVE MANEUVERS.
THESE NARCO-SUBS
TYPICALLY WILL SHUT DOWN
DURING THE DAY AND DRIFT.
THEY'RE ALSO PAINTED
A VERY DARK GREEN,
BLUE, OCEAN COLOR.
SO, WHEN THEY ARE DRIFTING,
THEY ARE VERY HARD TO DETECT.
Narrator: UNDER COVER OF NIGHT,
THE SUB GETS UNDERWAY AGAIN.
Moore: THEY DO SHIFT TACTICS,
AND WE ADJUST OUR METHODS,
AS WELL.
IT IS A CAT-AND-MOUSE GAME.
Narrator: AND IN THIS HIGH-TECH
GAME OF CAT AND MOUSE,
THE CAT HAS ANOTHER
CUTTING-EDGE TOOL IT CAN USE...
FLIR, OR FORWARD-LOOKING
INFRARED.
Hammack: INFRARED IS A TYPE OF
RADIATION THAT'S GIVEN OFF BY OBJECTS
THAT ARE HOTTER
THAN THEIR SURROUNDINGS.
INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT
AN OBJECT WITH VISIBLE LIGHT,
YOU CAN SEE IT BY THE HEAT
IT'S GIVING OFF.
Moore: WE ACTUALLY CAN SEE
AT NIGHT USING NO LIGHTS,
SIMPLY USING THAT
INFRARED RETURN,
SO IT'S VERY USEFUL FOR US
IN THE OPEN OCEAN
WHEN WE'RE COMPLETELY DARK,
FAR OFF SHORE,
AND WE CAN ACTUALLY
TRACK OTHER BOATS
BASED ON THEIR HEAT SIGNATURE.
ON A NARCO-SUB,
THE VESSEL ITSELF
WILL BE A LITTLE BIT WARMER,
TYPICALLY,
THAN THE WATER IS AT NIGHT
AND IN THE OPEN OCEAN.
THE ENGINES THAT THEY USE
DO EMIT SOME EXHAUST,
AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY
GET A HEAT SIGNATURE
FROM THE EXHAUST
OF THESE SMALL ENGINES.
AND THEN, OF COURSE,
IF THERE ARE PEOPLE ON DECK,
THE BODY HEAT OF A PERSON
IS VISIBLE IN A FLIR CAMERA.
Narrator: BUT THE INNOVATIVE
MOUSE HASN'T GIVEN UP YET.
Hammack: THE NARCO-SUBS
CAN DEFEAT AN INFRARED CAMERA
BY MASKING THEIR
HEAT SIGNATURE.
LET'S JUST SAY,
THE PATTERN OF HEAT
THAT THE SUB GIVES OFF.
THEY DO THAT BY
INSTALLING A HEAT CONDUCTOR
THAT DISSIPATES THE HEAT
OVER A LARGE SURFACE AREA.
THIS HAS THE EFFECT OF REDUCING
THE HEAT SIGNATURE OF THE SUB.
Narrator: OTHER SOURCES OF HEAT
ARE DEALT WITH
BY NATURALLY COOLING THEM
IN THE OCEAN.
THE NARCO-SUB'S
INGENIOUS DESIGN
PUTS THE EXHAUST PIPES
UNDERWATER,
GREATLY REDUCING THE SUB'S
VISIBLE VAPOR TRAIL.
Hammack: THESE COUNTER-MEASURES
MAKE THE SUBS MUCH HARDER TO DETECT.
THEY'RE ALMOST INVISIBLE,
FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES.
Moore: WE SOMETIMES REFER
TO THEM AS UNICORNS,
AND WE DO THAT BECAUSE
WE TALK ABOUT THEM,
BUT MOST OF US
HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE.
Narrator: BUT THE SEARCH CREW
IS DETERMINED TO CHANGE THAT.
AS PART OF THE HUNT,
THE P-3 DEPLOYS SONOBUOYS,
ANOTHER WEAPON
IN ITS HIGH-TECH ARSENAL.
SONOBUOYS ARE SMALL,
DISPOSABLE DEVICES
THAT CAN BE DROPPED
INTO THE WATER
IN A GRID PATTERN
OR IN A LOCATION,
THAT UTILIZE SONAR TO
IDENTIFY WHERE ITEMS MAY BE.
NOW, THIS COULD BE
THROUGH ACTIVE SONARS,
SENDING OUT SIGNALS
CONSTANTLY AND ANALYZING
HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR THE SOUND
TO COME BACK, OR PASSIVE,
WHICH ARE JUST SITTING
THERE AND LISTENING.
THINK OF THEM
MORE LIKE MICROPHONES
JUST SITTING IN THE WATER.
THEY LISTEN FOR THE SOUND
OF AN ENGINE
OR A PROPELLER IN THE WATER.
Narrator:
TO FOOL THE P-3 SONAR,
THE NARCO-SUB KEEPS ITS ENGINE
NOISE TO A MINIMUM.
Ramirez:
AFTER ALL, THESE VESSELS
DO NOT WANT TO BE
DETECTED BY SONAR,
SO IT'S IMPORTANT
THAT THEY REDUCE
THE NOISE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
Narrator:
WHILE THE NARCO-SUBS ARE QUIET,
THEY AREN'T ENGINEERED
TO BE FAST,
GIVING THE SEARCH CREWS
A DEFINITE ADVANTAGE.
Moore:
WE HAD TO BRING UP OUR ENGINES,
WE BROUGHT OUR GAS TURBINE UP,
WHICH IS OUR SPRINTING ENGINE,
TO CLOSE THAT DISTANCE QUICKLY.
Narrator:
MODERN-DAY DRUG SMUGGLERS
HAVE CRAFTED
SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE SUBMARINES
FROM FIBERGLASS AND WOOD
THAT ARE ALMOST UNDETECTABLE
TO THE AUTHORITIES TASKED
WITH CATCHING THEM.
AS THE P-3,
A U.S. NAVY AIRCRAFT,
CONTINUES TO STALK
THE NARCO-SUB,
THE OUTNUMBERED
AND OUTRESOURCED CREW
CONTINUES THEIR OPERATION.
Moore: THESE NARCO-SUBS
DON'T HAVE AIR CONDITIONING,
VENTILATION OF ANY KIND.
THE SMALL ENGINE
THAT RUNS IN THE BACK
TYPICALLY IS VERY CLOSE
TO THE LIVING QUARTERS.
TYPICALLY, THERE'S NOT EVEN ROOM
FOR ALL THE CREW ON BOARD
TO LAY DOWN
OR SIT AT ONE TIME.
Narrator:
THE SUB HAS A CREW OF FOUR...
THE CAPTAIN WHO STEERS THE SHIP,
A MECHANIC WHO OPERATES
THE ENGINE,
A CARGO SPECIALIST,
AND AN ASSISTANT NAVIGATOR.
THE PEOPLE THAT USUALLY
MAKE THESE VOYAGES
ARE PEOPLE
WHO ARE DISENFRANCHISED.
THEY'RE, IN A SENSE,
IMPOVERISHED
INDIVIDUALS IN SOUTH AMERICA
WHO ARE REALLY LOOKING
FOR A QUICK PAYDAY.
Narrator: IRONICALLY,
THE SAME DESIGN FEATURES
THAT MAKE THE NARCO-SUB
SO DIFFICULT TO TRACK
ALSO MAKE IT HAZARDOUS
TO ITS OWN CREW.
BECAUSE IT SITS SO LOW,
THE SUB IS VULNERABLE
TO CHOPPY OR STORMY WATER.
Moore: WHEN THEY ARE MOVING
IN ANY BAD WEATHER,
WATER IS TYPICALLY CRASHING
OVER THE TOP OF THEM.
SO, ANY LEAKS, ANY BREAKDOWN
OF THE ENGINE,
COULD LEAD TO THESE BOATS
QUICKLY SINKING.
Narrator:
WITHOUT ANY CONCRETE LEADS
IN THE NARCO-SUB SEARCH,
THE P-3 TURNS TO MORE
ABSTRACT TECHNOLOGY...
MATHEMATICAL MODELING KNOWN
AS GAME THEORY.
Hilbert: IT'S SPECULATED THAT THEY
USE A VERSION OF GAME THEORY
TO TRACK THE NARCO-SUBS
AS THEY WERE GOING
THROUGH THE WATER.
AND WHAT GAME
THEORY IS, BASICALLY,
IS UNDERSTANDING
WHO YOUR OPPONENT IS,
WHO'S RUNNING THE SHIP,
WHAT'S GOING ON THERE,
AND WHAT THEIR LIKELY
MOVE IS GOING TO BE,
AND AS SUCH, COUNTER MOVING,
BECAUSE YOU'RE WORKING
ON A GIANT GRID BOARD,
AND YOU HAVE TO NARROW DOWN
WHERE IT IS LIKELY
TO FIND THESE SUBS.
NOW, PART OF THAT IS GOING
TO BE WIND CURRENTS,
THE SPEED OF THE SHIP,
THE TRAVEL PATTERN
THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN IN THE PAST,
BUT EQUALLY, WHO'S
ACTUALLY BEHIND IT?
WHO'S THE CONTROL?
WHO'S THE CAPTAIN?
Narrator:
AFTER HOURS OF SEARCHING,
THE P-3 FINALLY SPOTS
SOMETHING IN THE WATER.
[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]
CAPTAIN.
THE U. S. COAST GUARD
CUTTER STRATTON...
ROGER. LET'S PLOT A COURSE
TO INTERCEPT.
...IS ORDERED TO INTERCEPT
THE VESSEL.
NOW. GO FAST.
GO FAST. GO FAST.
SET LE PHASE 2
FOR GO-FAST RESPONSE.
Moore: WHEN WE SET UP TO DO
ONE OF THESE BOARDINGS,
EVERYONE HAS A JOB
AND THEY KNOW WHAT IT IS.
EVERYBODY IS RUNNING THROUGH
THE SHIP, WE'RE EXCITED,
AND WE GET TO OUR STATIONS
AND WE'RE READY TO GO.
Narrator:
THE STATE-OF-THE-ART CUTTER
MUST TRAVEL
TO THE NARCO-SUB'S
LAST KNOWN COORDINATES FAST.
THIS NARCO-SUB WAS DETECTED
APPROXIMATELY 210 MILES SOUTH
OF PUERTO ESCONDIDO, MEXICO,
IN THE DRUG-TRANSIT ZONE.
THE FIRST THING
WE'VE GOT TO DO
FROM THE OPERATIONAL STANDPOINT
IS, GET THE SHIP INTO POSITION
TO SNEAK UP BEHIND THESE GUYS
AND INTERCEPT THEM.
IN THIS CASE, THE NARCO-SUB
WAS A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES AWAY,
SO WE HAD TO BRING UP
OUR ENGINES,
WE BROUGHT OUR GAS TURBINE UP,
WHICH IS OUR SPRINTING ENGINE,
TO CLOSE THAT DISTANCE QUICKLY.
A GAS TURBINE IS A KIND OF
INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE
THAT'S A LOT LIKE A JET ENGINE
IN AN AIRCRAFT.
THE WAY IT WORKS IS THAT AIR
IS SUCKED INTO A COMPRESSOR
AND IS THEN MIXED WITH FUEL
BEFORE BEING IGNITED.
THIS EXPLOSION PRODUCE GASES
THAT ARE VERY HOT
AND UNDER HIGH PRESSURE,
WHICH ARE THEN CHANNELED
INTO A TURBINE
CAUSING IT TO SPIN
AND PRODUCE POWER.
Narrator: WITH THE HEAVY-DUTY
GAS TURBINES,
THE STRATTON CAN REACH
A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 30 KNOTS.
FOR US, THE GAS TURBINE
IS REAL USEFUL
FOR INTERCEPTING
DRUG TRAFFICKERS
BECAUSE WE CAN SPRINT
TO GET ON TOP OF THEM QUICKLY
AND CLOSE THAT DISTANCE.
Narrator:
THE CUTTER IS TRAVELING
THREE TO FOUR TIMES FASTER
THAN THE NARCO-SUB.
THEY TYPICALLY GO ABOUT 7 TO
10 MILES AN HOUR ON THE WATER.
THAT'S ABOUT THE SAME SPEED
AS A SLOW FISHING TRAWLER.
Narrator:
EVEN WITH THE POWERFUL TURBINES,
IT TAKES THE STRATTON 10 HOURS
TO REACH THE NARCO-SUB
UNDER COVER OF NIGHT.
A SPECIALLY-TRAINED
BOARDING CREW,
AKIN TO A SWAT TEAM,
PREPARES TO AMBUSH THE SUB.
Moore:
TO GET THE BOARDING TEAM OUT,
WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO IN ADVANCE
IS GET THEM TO DRESS OUT,
GET THEM TO PREPARE
WITH THE INFORMATION
OF WHERE THEY'RE GOING
AND WHAT THE CONDITIONS
ARE OUTSIDE ON THE WATER.
THESE ARE VERY
WELL-TRAINED FOLKS
THAT SPEND A LOT OF TIME
PRACTICING THE ART
OF GETTING ON
AND OFF SMALL BOATS.
WE VECTOR IN AS QUICKLY
AS WE CAN IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGHT
AND STAND OFF A LITTLE
SO THAT THE SHIP
IS NOT VISIBLE FROM THE WATER.
Narrator: THE CREW OF THE SUB
HAS NO IDEA
THEY'VE BEEN TRACKED DOWN.
AND CAPTAIN MOORE WANTS
TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.
Moore: WHEN YOU PREPARE TO BOARD
A NARCO-SUB,
THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE
IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE TYPICALLY DO
COME UP BEHIND THEM
WITH THE INTENT
OF NOT BEING SEEN.
[ MAN SHOUTS IN SPANISH ]
Narrator:
AS U.S. AUTHORITIES
DEPLOY 21st CENTURY
SEARCH TECHNOLOGIES
TO CRACK DOWN
ON DRUG TRAFFICKING,
MODERN-DAY DRUG SMUGGLERS
HAVE COUNTERED
WITH SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE SUBMARINES
DESIGNED TO AVOID DETECTION.
ABOARD THE U.S. COAST GUARD
CUTTER STRATTON,
CAPTAIN MOORE AND HIS CREW
MUST AMBUSH THE NARCO-SUB
THEY'RE CHASING BEFORE
ITS CREW HAS A CHANCE
TO ACTIVATE THE SCUTTLING VALVES
AND DESTROY THE EVIDENCE.
A SCUTTLING VALVE
ALLOWS SEA WATER
DIRECTLY INTO THE HULL
OF THE NARCO-SUB.
[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]
ONCE THE VALVE IS OPENED,
THE HULL QUICKLY BEGINS
TO FILL WITH SEA WATER.
Moore: WHEN WE GO TO INTERCEPT
THESE VESSELS,
THE IDEA IS TO SURPRISE THEM
AND GET ON BOARD
AND SEIZE THE VESSEL QUICKLY.
IF YOU DON'T DO THAT,
THEY WILL QUICKLY
OPEN THESE VALVES
AND ALLOW THE BOAT
TO SINK OUT FROM UNDER THEM
BEFORE YOU EVER HAVE
A CHANCE TO SEIZE IT.
THEY CAN SINK
WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES.
Narrator:
THE COAST GUARD BEGINS
ITS BOARDING OPERATION
AT FIRST LIGHT.
Moore: WE USED THE HELICOPTER
TO HELP US PINPOINT THE LOCATION
AND MAKE SURE THAT THE BOARDING
TEAM GOT ON SCENE QUICKLY.
WE FELT LIKE A DAWN
BOARDING WAS THE BEST IDEA,
TO CATCH THEM WHILE
THEY WERE STILL SLEEPING,
WHEN WE THOUGHT THEY WOULD
BE LEAST READY FOR US.
IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE,
THE NARCO-SUB'S
HATCH WAS LOCKED.
SO WHAT YOU HEAR
IS THE BOARDING OFFICER...
- [ SHOUTS IN SPANISH ]
- ...YELLING AT
THE GUYS INSIDE...
- [ SHOUTS IN SPANISH ]
- ...TO OPEN UP, TO COME OUT.
Man: AFUERA!
AFUERA! AFUERA!
Moore: WHEN THEY KNEW THEY
WERE CAUGHT, THEY GAVE UP.
Narrator:
THE RAID IS A SUCCESS.
THE COAST GUARD TAKES
ALL FOUR CREW MEMBERS
INTO CUSTODY,
WITH THE SUB AND ITS ILLEGAL
CONTENTS STILL INTACT.
WHEN THE BOARDING PARTIES
GET ON BOARD A NARCO-SUB,
WHAT THEY SEE WHEN
THEY LOOK DOWN BELOW
IS ROWS OF BAILS
OF COCAINE STACKED
AS FAR AS THEY CAN SEE,
ALL THE WAY UP
TO THE TOP OF THE BOAT.
THE AMOUNT OF DRUGS THAT THESE
NARCO-SUBS HOLD IS INCREDIBLE.
ALMOST 7,000 KILOGRAMS
OF PURE COCAINE.
THE COCAINE IS WRAPPED IN BAILS
THAT ARE PRETTY HEAVY.
THEY'RE ABOUT 50 POUNDS
EACH OF COCAINE PACKED HARD.
Narrator: EVEN WITH
THE DRUG RUNNERS APPREHENDED,
THE STRATTON'S JOB ISN'T DONE.
Moore: UNLOADING THE NARCO-SUBS
ARE VERY DANGEROUS.
WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE INHERENTLY
UNSTABLE JUST BY DESIGN.
SO WHEN YOU OPEN THE TOP
OF ONE OF THESE BOATS UP,
POTENTIALLY ALLOWING
THE WATER TO CRASH IN
AND SINK THEM AS THE BOAT
ROLLS BACK AND FORTH,
IT MAKES THINGS VERY DANGEROUS
FOR THE BOARDING TEAMS.
YOU DO HAVE TO PHYSICALLY
REMOVE THE BAILS
FROM THE NARCO-SUBS
ONE AT A TIME,
AND IT'S A VERY LABORIOUS,
ROUGH PROCESS.
IT'S REALLY HOT DOWN THERE
AND IT'S VERY HARD
TO MANEUVER
AND GET IN AND OUT
OF THESE SUBS SAFELY.
Narrator: THE CREW REMOVES
12,000 POUNDS OF COCAINE,
THE OTHER 4,000 LEFT ON BOARD
TO KEEP THE SUB STABLE.
WITH THE NARCOTICS SECURED,
THEY BEGIN TOWING THE VESSEL
TO SHORE AS EVIDENCE.
Moore: WE WERE ABLE TO TOW IT
FOR ABOUT 100 MILES
THROUGH THE NIGHT, VERY SLOWLY,
BUT THERE WAS A LEAK
AND WE LOST IT
IN ABOUT 13,000 FEET
DEEP WATER,
TO THE BOTTOM.
Narrator: ANY NEW INFORMATION
ABOUT TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES
IN THIS NARCO-SUB
IS LOST TO THE OCEAN.
AND INTERCEPTING THE SUBS
IS GETTING HARDER ALL THE TIME,
ESPECIALLY NOW THAT THE CARTELS
ARE BEGINNING TO BUILD
FULLY-SUBMERSIBLE VESSELS.
THE DESIGNERS
OF THE NARCO-SUBMARINES
ARE GETTING BETTER
AND BETTER EACH AND EVERY YEAR
IN TERMS OF AVOIDING
THE AUTHORITIES.
WE NOW HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE
THAT NARCO-SUBMARINES
ARE BEING BUILT
FOR MULTIPLE TRIPS.
WE HAVE LOCATED
NARCO-SUBMARINES IN PRODUCTION
THAT HAVE SACRIFICIAL
ANODES ON THEM,
BASICALLY ZINC BARS,
THAT ATTRACT SALT WATER
AND KEEP THE SUBMARINE
FROM RUSTING AS QUICKLY
AS OTHERWISE MIGHT HAPPEN.
THE ONLY REASON THE DESIGNERS
WOULD BUILD THIS IS
FOR MULTIPLE TRIPS
IN SALT WATER.
WHAT STARTED OFF
AS LOW-PROFILE VEHICLES,
ARE NOW FULL-ON SUBMARINES
THAT ARE ABLE TO TRAVEL
GREAT DISTANCES UNDETECTED.
THEY'RE ABLE TO
TRAVEL UNDERWATER,
THE VAST MAJORITY
OF THE DISTANCE,
ALL THE WAY FROM COLOMBIA
TO LOS ANGELES.
THAT IS TRULY SCARY
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.
Narrator: THAT'S NOT THE ONLY
TERRIFYING THING.
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SUSPECTS
THAT THIS NEW GENERATION
OF NARCO-SUBS
COULD ALSO BE USED FOR SOMETHING
EVEN MORE DANGEROUS
THAN NARCOTICS.
THE REAL WORRY AMONG
NATIONAL SECURITY EXPERTS
IS NOT JUST THE DRUGS.
IT'S THE FACT
THAT NARCO-SUBMARINES
COULD BE USED TO TRANSPORT
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
Ramirez: SO, IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
TO UNDERSTAND
HOW THEY'RE USED,
HOW THEY'RE BUILT,
HOW THEY'RE DESIGNED,
AND WAYS TO TRY TO
COMBAT THEIR OPERATIONS,
AND OBVIOUSLY IMPROVE
THE ABILITY
TO FIND THEM
WHILE THEY'RE ON SEA.
Narrator: MAKING THE HUNT
FOR THE NARCO-SUBS
EVEN MORE URGENT.
Moore: WE KNOW THAT THE DRUG
TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS
ARE MULTI-NATIONAL CRIME
ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL.
THEY ARE CONDUCTING
MONEY LAUNDERING,
HUMAN SMUGGLING, CYBER
CRIME AND TERRORISM.
SO INTERCEPTING
THE DRUGS AT SEA HELPS
TO DISMANTLE THAT NETWORK
IN ALL ITS FORMS
OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITY.
THE COAST GUARD
OPERATES SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT
IN THE DRUG-TRANSIT
ZONE CONTINUOUSLY.
WE'RE BRINGING NEWER ASSETS
TO THE FIGHT ALL THE TIME,
AND WE'LL BE ON STATION
LOOKING ALL THE TIME.
Narrator:
WHETHER ON SEA OR ON LAND,
TECHNOLOGY IN THE HANDS
OF A CRIMINAL MASTERMIND
CAN BE COSTLY AND DANGEROUS
TO LAW ENFORCEMENT,
ESPECIALLY WHEN
A COMBINATION OF TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING, AND CRIMINAL INTENT
IS USED TO ATTACK
ONE OF THE BEST
AND MOST EXPENSIVE
SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS AROUND...
CASINO SECURITY.
IN 2004, ARIZONA
BUSINESSMAN ADNAN ALISIC
IS SPENDING A LOT OF TIME
AT THE CASINO,
ALL UNDER THE HIGH-TECH
GLARE OF CASINO SECURITY.
MOST CASINOS HAVE VARIOUS
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SECURITY.
THEY HAVE
THE PHYSICAL SECURITY,
MEANING THERE'S ARMED GUARDS
WALKING AROUND,
PROTECTING THE CASH.
THEY ALSO HAVE UNDERCOVER
SECURITY GUARDS
WHO WOULD SIT AT
THE TABLE WITH YOU.
EVERY TABLE IS MONITORED
THROUGH CAMERAS,
SO THERE'S CC TV EVERYWHERE,
USUALLY MULTIPLE CAMERAS
MONITORING YOU.
AND THEN PEOPLE ARE MONITORED
AS THEY COME IN
AND OUT OF THE CASINO,
AND AROUND THE OUTSIDE
OF THE CASINO IS ALSO MONITORED.
Narrator: THE MONITORING IS
INTENSE AND ALL-ENCOMPASSING
BECAUSE OF THE SHEER AMOUNT
OF MONEY EXCHANGING HANDS.
CASINOS MUST HAVE ENOUGH CASH
TO COVER EVERY CHIP
IN PLAY ON THE FLOOR.
A SMALLER ESTABLISHMENT,
LIKE THE CASINO IN ARIZONA,
COULD HAVE UPWARDS
OF $20 MILLION ON SITE.
THE MONEY IS SAFELY STORED
AT TIGHTLY-CONTROLLED AREAS
WITHIN THE CASINO.
THERE IS THE CASHIER'S CAGE,
A HIGHLY-SECURE AREA
WHERE MONEY IS COUNTED AND CHIPS
AND TOKENS CAN BE
EXCHANGED FOR CASH.
THE CAGE IS MOST
OFTEN LOCATED AWAY
FROM THE CASINO ENTRANCES
AND EXITS,
MONITORED BY SECURITY
CAMERAS BEHIND BARS
AND SECURE, STEEL DOORS.
MONEY MOVES WITHIN
MOST CASINOS,
USUALLY TO AND FROM
THE COUNTING ROOMS,
UNDER ARMED GUARD
AND SOMETIMES OUT OF SIGHT
VIA PNEUMATIC TUBES,
WHILE THE BULK OF THE MONEY
IS KEPT IN THE CASINO VAULT.
AND SOME OF THAT MONEY
IS ADNAN ALISIC'S.
HE'S BEEN GOING TO THE CASINO
ALMOST EVERY NIGHT FOR MONTHS,
EVEN BORROWING MONEY
TO KEEP PLAYING.
ADNAN ALISIC IS
A BOSNIAN REFUGEE.
HE OWNED A COFFEE SHOP
IN GLENDALE,
AND HE ALSO OWNED
A USED-CAR SALES LOT.
HE WAS IN THE THROWS
OF A GAMBLING ADDICTION,
AND HE HAD LOST HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS,
CLOSE TO A MILLION, PLAYING
BLACKJACK AT THE CASINO ARIZONA.
Narrator: ONE NIGHT, THOUGH,
HIS LUCK STARTS TO TURN.
Rothbart: ADNAN WAS UP $50,000.
HE WAS STARTING
TO MAKE HIS COMEBACK.
HE WAS GONNA BE ABLE
TO PAY OFF DEBTS,
GET OUT OF TROUBLE
WITH HIS BUSINESSES,
PAY BACK PEOPLE
HE BORROWED MONEY FROM,
AND CONTINUED TO GAMBLE.
Narrator: BUT CASINO SECURITY
ISN'T HAPPY WITH ADNAN.
SO THOSE CC TVs THAT
ARE MONITORING PEOPLE COMING IN
AND OUT ARE ALSO MONITORING
EACH INDIVIDUAL AS THEY GAMBLE.
Narrator: ADNAN IS WINNING BIG,
AND IT'S SUSPICIOUS.
GO!
SECURITY GUARDS THROW HIM
OUT OF THE CASINO.
Rothbart: AND HE'S REALLY ANGRY.
HE'S SHOCKED.
I MEAN, THEY DIDN'T MIND
TAKING HIS MONEY,
BUT THE NIGHT
THAT HE STARTS WINNING BIG,
THEY KICK HIM OUT OF THERE.
Narrator:
ADNAN WANTS REVENGE.
Caldwell: ADNAN ALISIC DECIDED
THAT THE BEST WAY FOR HIM
TO GET HIS MONEY
BACK FROM THE CASINO
WAS TO ROB THE CASINO.
Narrator: BUT HOW?
THE CASINO IS ONE
OF THE BEST-PROTECTED
BUILDINGS IN PHOENIX.
Hilbert:
IT'S A VERY SECURE LOCATION
IN THAT THEY WANT TO PROTECT
THE MONEY THAT THEY'RE MAKING.
Narrator: THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT
IS TO KEEP IT ALL IN A SECURE VAULT.
THEY'RE PROTECTING THEIR MONEY
FROM A PHYSICAL ROBBERY,
SOMEBODY COMING IN
AND PULLING A GUN AND SAYING,
"GIVE ME ALL YOUR MONEY."
AT MOST CASINOS,
VAULTS ARE HOUSED
BEHIND MULTIPLE LAYERS
OF SECURITY.
THE DOORS ARE MADE OF STEEL.
ENTRANCES AND EXITS ARE TIMED,
AND THERE ARE MOTION
DETECTORS EVERYWHERE.
ADNAN IS DETERMINED TO DEFEAT
THE HIGH-TECH CASINO
SECURITY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
Rothbart: HE WAS DRIVING HOME
AND HE STOPPED TO TAKE A LEAK
ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD,
AND AS HE PEERED
OVER THE GUARD RAIL,
HE SAW DOWN BELOW
WHAT LOOKED LIKE
THE OPEN MOUTH OF A TUNNEL.
Narrator: HE DECIDES
TO EXAMINE FURTHER.
Rothbart: AND AS HE POKES
HIS HEAD INSIDE,
HE SAW THAT THE TUNNEL
TURNED TO THE RIGHT
TOWARD THE CASINO ARIZONA.
A LIGHT CAME ON IN HIS HEAD.
HE KNEW HOW HE WAS
GONNA GET HIS MONEY BACK.
HE KNEW HOW HE COULD
PULL OFF A HEIST.
Narrator: CASINO SECURITY IS
THE BEST IN THE WORLD.
ONE VEGAS CASINO HAS OVER
2,000 SECURITY CAMERAS
INSTALLED,
WHILE IN OTHERS,
FACIAL RECOGNITION SOFTWARE
IS USED AT ENTRANCES AND EXITS.
SOME CASINOS EVEN
HAVE CHOKE POINTS,
AREAS WHERE HUMAN TRAFFIC
IS SLOWED DOWN
BY THE PLACEMENT
OF STRATEGIC OBSTACLES.
THESE CAREFULLY-DESIGNED
HUMAN TRAFFIC JAMS
ARE INTENDED TO SLOW DOWN
ANY KIND OF ESCAPE
AND TO PROVIDE SURVEILLANCE
WITH A NICE,
LONG LOOK AT ANYONE OF INTEREST.
DESPITE SOME OF THESE
HIGH-TECH PRECAUTIONS,
AFTER LOSING HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
AT THE CASINO,
ADNAN ALISIC THINKS
HE CAN OUTSMART THEM ALL
TO GET HIS REVENGE.
HE COMES UP WITH A PLAN
THAT WILL REQUIRE NOT JUST LUCK
BUT TECH AND ENGINEERING
KNOW-HOW TO SUCCEED.
Rothbart: ADNAN'S ORIGINAL IDEA
WAS TO FOLLOW THESE TUNNELS
UNDER THE CASINO,
TUNNEL UP RIGHT
UNDER THE BATHROOM.
HE WAS GONNA GO IN, SEIZE ALL
THE MONEY FROM THE CAGE,
IS WHAT THEY CALL IT,
WHERE ALL THE MONEY
THAT THE CASINO HAS IS HELD,
SOMETIMES MILLIONS OF DOLLARS,
RUN INTO THE BATHROOM,
BARRICADE HIMSELF IN THERE,
BLAST THROUGH INTO
THE SEWER TUNNELS
AND ESCAPE THAT WAY.
Narrator: BUT FIRST, HE NEEDS TO
FIGURE OUT WHICH OF THE TUNNELS
IN THIS MAZE LEADS
TO THE CASINO.
HE BEGINS A DETAILED EXPLORATION
AND MAPPING OF THE AREA.
ADNAN SPENT MONTHS EXPLORING
THE SEWER SYSTEM AROUND
AND BENEATH
THE CASINO ARIZONA.
HE AND HIS FRIEND FLEKA
WOULD SPEND HOURS
WITH FLASHLIGHTS.
THEY WOULD DROP GLOW STICKS
DOWN MANHOLE COVERS
AND SEWER GRATES
AROUND THE WHOLE AREA,
SO THAT WOULD HELP THEM
CREATE A MAP, THEREFORE,
OF THE SEWER TUNNELS THEMSELVES.
Narrator: BUT AS ADNAN MAKES HIS
WAY DEEPER INTO THE TUNNEL SYSTEM,
HE RUNS INTO OBSTACLES,
NAMELY NARROW SEWER LINES,
BLOCKING ACCESS
TO THE CASINO.
Caldwell: SO WHAT THEY DID WAS,
THEY USED A CUTTING TORCH
TO CUT INTO THE SEWER LINE,
CUTTING THROUGH A STEEL CASING,
AND THEN THROUGH A PVC PIPE.
Narrator: THE PIPE IS TOO NARROW
TO WALK THROUGH,
BUT ADNAN IS NOT
READY TO GIVE UP.
HE MASTERMINDS A RIG
TO ALLOW HIM
TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE TUNNELS.
Rothbart: HE HAD THIS
COMPLETELY NOVEL IDEA
ABOUT HOW TO EXPLORE
THESE VENTILATION SHAFTS.
HE HAD THIS
GAS-POWERED SKATEBOARD,
AND HE WAS GONNA SHOOT
DOWN THE VENTILATION SHAFT
HUNDREDS OF FEET,
DEEPER INTO THE CASINO.
THEY WOULD KIND OF LUGE THEIR
WAY DOWN THESE LONG TUNNELS.
I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY CRAZY
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
Hammack: THIS IS JUST LIKE
AN ORDINARY SKATEBOARD,
EXCEPT THAT IT'S POWERED
BY A TINY, GASOLINE ENGINE,
ABOUT 1/3 THE SIZE
OF A LAWN MOWER ENGINE.
IT CAN GO UP
TO 25 MILES PER HOUR,
WHICH IS PRETTY FAST
FOR A SKATEBOARD.
Narrator: IT MAY BE FAST,
BUT IT CAN ALSO BE DEADLY.
Rothbart: THE THING HE HADN'T
REALLY ANTICIPATED WAS THE EXHAUST
THAT WOULD COME OUT
OF THIS GAS-POWERED SKATEBOARD.
RUNNING A GASOLINE ENGINE
IN A CONFINED SPACE
WITH NO VENTILATION,
LIKE A SEWER,
IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.
THE ENGINE IS PRODUCING
EXHAUST FUMES
THAT CONTAIN CARBON MONOXIDE,
A POISONOUS GAS
THAT CAN BE FATAL
IF YOU BREATHE
A LOT OF IT IN.
THE WAY THAT CARBON
MONOXIDE KILLS YOU
IS THAT IT GETS INTO YOUR LUNGS
AND GETS ABSORBED
BY THE HEMOGLOBIN
IN YOUR RED BLOOD CELLS,
DISPLACING THE OXYGEN THAT IS
NORMALLY CARRIED BY THESE CELLS.
SO THAT, AS YOU BREATHE
IN CARBON MONOXIDE,
YOUR BODY IS GETTING LESS
AND LESS OXYGEN
UNTIL YOU EVENTUALLY
LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS AND DIE.
IT'S A RECIPE FOR DISASTER.
Rothbart:
WHEN YOU'RE HUNDREDS OF FEET
DOWN SOME TINY
VENTILATION SHAFT,
THE SMOKE JUST
COLLECTED AROUND HIM.
HE ALMOST DIED
INHALING THESE FUMES.
HE WAS ON THE VERGE
OF LOSING CONSCIOUSNESS,
AND HE WAS ABLE
TO JUST FIGHT IT OFF
AND GET HIS WAY
BACK OUT OF THE TUNNEL.
ADNAN IS A FOCUSED DUDE,
AND WHEN HE HAS HIS MIND
MAKE UP ABOUT SOMETHING,
HE'S GONNA FIND
A WAY TO DO IT.
Narrator: NO MATTER WHAT, HE'S
DETERMINED TO PULL OFF THE BIGGEST
AND MOST SPECTACULAR ROBBERY
THAT PHOENIX HAS EVER SEEN.
Rothbart: IT'S ONE OF THE MOST,
LIKE, CRAZY, INGENIOUS,
INNOVATIVE, AND AMBITIOUS CAPERS
I'VE EVER HEARD OF.
Narrator: BUT ADNAN HASN'T FOUND
HIS WAY INTO THE CASINO YET.
Rothbart:
THEY KEPT HITTING DEAD ENDS.
THEY COULDN'T FIND THEIR WAY
UNDERNEATH THE CASINO.
HE DECIDED TO ABANDON
THAT IDEA
AND CAME UP WITH ANOTHER.
Narrator: INSTEAD OF ROBBING
THE CASINO ITSELF,
HE'LL TARGET THE ARMORED TRUCK
THAT DELIVERS CASH
TO THE CASINO'S ATMs
EVERY MORNING
AND ESCAPE THROUGH THE TUNNELS
HE'S SO CAREFULLY MAPPED OUT.
NOW THERE ARE NEW OBSTACLES
TO OVERCOME,
INCLUDING THE ARMORED
TRUCK ITSELF.
AN ARMORED TRUCK IS A MASSIVE,
METAL BOX MOUNTED
ON WHEELS, HIGHLY-ENGINEERED,
WITH ONE OBJECT IN MIND...
TO KEEP THE CONTENTS
OF THE TRUCK SECURE.
THE WALLS, FLOOR,
CEILING, AND DOORS
ARE ALL MADE FROM
BULLET-RESISTANT STEEL.
THE WINDOWS,
WHICH DO NOT ROLL DOWN,
ARE BULLET-PROOF.
TIRES CAN BE ARMORED
WITH A U-SHAPED,
HARD PLASTIC LINER.
IF A TIRE DEFLATES, IT CAN
STILL RUN FOR SEVERAL MILES.
IN AN ARMORED CAR,
YOU HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES.
YOU HAVE THE DRIVER,
WHO IS ARMED,
AND YOU HAVE WHAT
THEY CALL "THE HOPPER,"
WHO SITS IN THE BACK
WITH THE MONEY, AND HE'S ARMED.
THEY'RE ARMED FOR A REASON,
AND THAT'S TO PROTECT
THEMSELVES AND THE MONEY.
Narrator: WHAT ADNAN HAS
REALIZED IS THAT AN ARMORED TRUCK
AND ITS CONTENTS
ARE MOST VULNERABLE
WHEN THE GUARDS ARE
OUTSIDE THE TRUCK,
EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE WEAPONS.
Rothbart: ARMORED-TRUCK ROBBERIES
ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
ARMORED-TRUCK DRIVERS
CARRY GUNS.
THEY ARE TAUGHT
TO PULL THEIR GUN
AND FIRE IT, YOU KNOW,
WHEN THEY'RE ATTACKED.
MOST ARMORED-TRUCK ROBBERIES
HAVE GONE VERY BADLY,
AND THEY'VE OFTEN ENDED UP
WITH THE PERSON
TRYING TO PULL OFF
THE CRIME BEING SHOT
AND SOMETIMES KILLED.
ADNAN WASN'T DETERRED.
Narrator: TO ADNAN,
THE SEWERS WILL PROVIDE
A PERFECT ESCAPE ROUTE
FROM THE ARMORED TRUCKS
UNLOADING IN FRONT
OF THE CASINO ATMs.
Rothbart:
THIS PLAN WAS GENIUS.
TO PULL OFF ANY HEIST
OF THIS MAGNITUDE
TAKES NOT JUST
GUTS, BUT ALSO BRAINS.
Narrator: SHORTLY AFTER DAWN
ON JULY 21, 2006,
AN ARMORED TRUCK PULLS UP
IN THE ALLEYWAY
BEHIND THE CASINO
TARGETED BY ADNAN ALISIC.
Caldwell: THERE WAS MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN THE ARMORED CAR.
THEY HAVE A ROUTE
AND THEY DELIVER MONEY
TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS,
AND WHERE THE ROBBERY OCCURRED
WAS EARLY ON IN THEIR ROUTE.
THE HOPPER WAS OUT
OF THE VEHICLE UNLOADING MONEY
TO RELOAD THE ATM MACHINES
WITHIN THE CASINO.
AND AT THAT TIME,
AS HE WAS DOING THAT,
A VAN PULLED UP
BEHIND THE ARMORED CAR.
Narrator: INGENIOUS WOULD-BE
ROBBER ADNAN ALISIC
HAS DECIDED TO EXPLOIT
THE ARMORED CAR'S
SECURITY WEAKNESS,
NAMELY THAT IT'S MOST
VULNERABLE TO ATTACK
WHEN THE GUARDS
ARE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE.
HE AND HIS FRIEND
FLEKA GET READY.
Caldwell: ONE INDIVIDUAL WAS
WEARING A JUMPSUIT,
AND HE HAD LARGE CANS
OF PEPPER SPRAY.
HE APPROACHED THE HOPPER
AS HE WAS UNLOADING THE MONEY,
SPRAYED HIM
WITH THE PEPPER SPRAY,
INCAPACITATING HIM.
Narrator:
PEPPER SPRAY IN NON-LETHAL,
BUT CAN INCAPACITATE
A PERSON ANYWHERE
FROM A FEW MINUTES
TO AN HOUR OR SO.
PEPPER SPRAY IS DERIVED
FROM THE CHEMICAL
COMPOUND CAPSAICIN,
THE ACTIVE COMPONENT
OF CHILI PEPPERS
THAT MAKES THEM HOT.
IF THE PEPPER SPRAY
DOESN'T DO THE TRICK,
THE DUO HAD SOMETHING
ELSE THAT WILL.
THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAD
WHAT APPEARED TO BE AN AK-47.
AFTER THEY GRABBED
THE MONEY BAG,
THEY THREW IT BACK IN THE VAN,
AND THEY TOOK OFF.
Narrator:
ADNAN AND FLEKA GET AWAY
WITH NEARLY THREE QUARTERS
OF A MILLION DOLLARS
WITHOUT FIRING A SHOT.
[ SIREN WAILS ]
WITHIN MINUTES,
POLICE GET REPORTS
THAT THE GETAWAY VAN IS STOPPED
AT AN INTERSECTION TWO BLOCKS
AWAY FROM THE CASINO.
Rothbart: THE VAN STOPPED
ON TOP A MANHOLE COVER.
WITNESSES SAW A HAND COME OUT
AND THROW OUT A GRENADE.
INITIALLY, THE WITNESS
THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE A REAL,
LIVE, EXPLOSIVE GRENADE.
AND THEN IT WENT OFF
AND IT WAS RELEASING SMOKE.
AND THEN, THROUGH THE SMOKE,
THEY COULD SEE FEET
COMING OUT
FROM UNDERNEATH THE VAN.
Hammack:
THE WAY A SMOKE GRENADE WORKS
IS THAT A FUSE IGNITES CHEMICALS
KNOWN AS A STARTER MIXTURE.
THIS GENERATES ENOUGH HEAT
TO IGNITE THE FILLER,
WHICH IS MADE UP OF SOME
OF THE SAME COMPONENTS
AS YOU GET IN FIREWORKS
OR MATCHES.
AFTER APPROXIMATELY
30 SECONDS OR SO,
THE VAN THEN TOOK OFF.
Narrator: POLICE INVESTIGATE.
UPON ARRIVING AT THAT
INTERSECTION,
WE FOUND AN AK-47
THAT WAS BROKEN INTO PIECES.
AND UPON INSPECTION
OF THE AK-47,
WE DETERMINED IT
WAS A PLASTIC TOY.
Narrator: IT LOOKS LIKE THE AK-47
THAT WAS USED IN THE HEIST.
AS THEY SEARCHED THE AREA,
POLICE MAKE
A SURPRISING DISCOVERY.
Narrator: AND AS WE STARTED
TO LOOK AT THE AREA,
WE'RE NOTICING THE MANHOLE COVER
THEY STOPPED OVER TOP.
IT WASN'T LIKE A NORMAL
STREET MANHOLE COVER WOULD BE.
IT ALMOST LOOKED LIKE IT
WAS A FABRICATED COPY OF ONE.
Hilbert: FOR WHATEVER REASON,
IT'S BEEN JAMMED,
AND THE MANHOLE COVER
IS STUCK IN PLACE.
WHAT WE BELIEVE IS,
WHEN CARS RAN OVER IT,
IT KIND OF BUCKLED IT
A LITTLE BIT
AND KIND OF WEDGED
IT IN A LITTLE.
WHAT THEY TRIED TO DO WAS USE
THAT PLASTIC AK-47
AS A CROWBAR, IF YOU WILL.
IT DIDN'T WORK.
IT SNAPPED.
WE PRIED OPEN THE MANHOLE COVER,
AND AS SOON AS WE LIFTED IT OFF,
IT WAS EVIDENT IT WAS NOT
A STANDARD-ISSUE MANHOLE COVER.
IT WAS THINNER THAN
A REGULAR MANHOLE COVER,
AND IT HAD EYE BOLTS WELDED
TO THE BOTTOM OF IT
WITH ROPES HANGING DOWN,
AND THERE WAS ALSO A WOODEN
LADDER PROPPED UP
UNDERNEATH TO GO DOWN
INSIDE THE MANHOLE.
INITIALLY, OUR REACTION WAS,
"OKAY, WHY WERE THEY TRYING
TO GET DOWN IN HERE?
THERE'S A REASON WHY
THEY WANTED TO GET DOWN.
WAS IT TO USE THAT
AS AN AVENUE OF ESCAPE?"
Narrator: WHEN POLICE GO DOWN
INTO THE MANHOLE,
THEY DISCOVER AN ATV PARKED
INSIDE THE SEWER, READY TO GO.
Rothbart: THEY REALIZED THEY'D
STUMBLED UPON THE GETAWAY PLAN,
THAT THESE ARMORED-TRUCK ROBBERS
WERE PLANNING
TO GET AWAY THROUGH
THE SEWER SYSTEM AND DISAPPEAR.
Narrator: BUT WITH THE ATV
STILL IN THE SEWER,
IT'S CLEAR TO POLICE
THAT SOMETHING
MUST HAVE GONE WRONG
WITH THE ESCAPE PLAN.
THEY RECEIVE A REPORT
THE GETAWAY VAN HAS BEEN
SPOTTED NOT FAR AWAY.
THEY SET OFF IN HOT PURSUIT.
Caldwell:
THEY CAUGHT UP TO THE VAN,
GOT INTO A PURSUIT
WITH THE VAN,
AND THEN, EVENTUALLY,
THE SUBJECTS TRIED TO ABANDON
THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT.
THAT'S WHEN ONE OF
THE SUBJECTS WAS APPREHENDED,
AND THE OTHER SUBJECT
GOT AWAY ON FOOT.
Narrator: THE MAN CAUGHT
BY POLICE IS ISMAR KABAKLIC,
BETTER KNOWN AS "FLEKA."
Caldwell: HE BASICALLY CONFESSED
WHAT THE PLAN WAS
AND HOW IT WAS
SUPPOSED TO SET OFF
AND WHY IT WAS COMMITTED.
HE BASICALLY HAD
TOLD US EVERYTHING.
HE IDENTIFIED ADNAN ALISIC
AS THE PERSON
WHO CAME UP WITH THE IDEA
TO ROB THE CASINO.
Rothbart: HE WENT BACK HOME TO
WHERE HE LIVED WITH HIS MOM AND SISTER,
AND BEFORE HE COULD
TAKE OFF AGAIN,
THE COPS HAD SURROUNDED IT,
AND ADNAN WAS CAPTURED
BEFORE THE DAY WAS DONE.
Narrator:
WITH THE MEN IN CUSTODY,
POLICE LEARN MORE ABOUT
THE ELABORATE
AND INGENIOUS PREPARATIONS
THAT ADNAN AND FLEKA
HAD MADE FOR THEIR ESCAPE
INTO THE SEWER,
PLANS THEY NEVER GOT
TO PUT INTO ACTION.
THE SMOKE GRENADE WAS MEANT
TO SET UP A SMOKE SCREEN
SO THAT AS ADNAN
AND HIS FRIEND DISAPPEARED
INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM,
NO ONE AROUND THE VAN COULD SEE.
Narrator:
TO THROW OFF THE POLICE,
ADNAN HAD PLANNED TO USE
A BLOWUP DOLL AS A DECOY.
Rothbart: THE IDEA WAS TO PLACE
THIS BLOWUP DOLL
BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE VAN
WITH A FAKE AK-47
IN ITS ARMS
TO CREATE A STANDOFF.
THE POLICE WOULDN'T
WANT TO RUSH THE VAN
AS LONG AS THEY THOUGHT
SOMEBODY WAS SITTING THERE
WITH A SKI MASK
AND AN AK-47.
Narrator:
THEY HAD OTHER BIG PLANS, TOO.
ADNAN HAD SPECIALLY RIGGED
THE VAN SO ONCE THEY GOT AWAY,
IT WOULD DRIVE OFF
AND CRASH INTO THE WALL.
HE HAD A ROPE-AND-PULLEY SYSTEM
THAT WOULD CAUSE THE CAR
TO GO INTO DRIVE,
AND THE CAR WOULD
GO FLYING FORWARD
AND SLAM INTO SOMETHING
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
Narrator:
THE FINISHING TOUCH...
A PAIR OF CANISTERS
FILLED WITH GASOLINE
AND ATTACHED TO A FUSE.
Rothbart: AS THEY DISAPPEARED
DOWN INTO THE SEWER,
THE GAS CANISTERS
WOULD LIGHT ON FIRE
AND SET OFF A GIANT BLAZE.
Narrator: THE EVIDENCE WOULD
HAVE BEEN DESTROYED IN THE FIRE,
WHILE THE POLICE
WOULD BE DISTRACTED
LONG ENOUGH FOR THE GETAWAY.
Caldwell: THAT WOULD ALLOW
THE TIME THEN TO DRIVE UNSEEN,
UNDERGROUND, AND COME UP
ANOTHER MANHOLE COVER,
SLIP INTO ANOTHER VAN THAT
WAS SITTING THERE READY,
AND DRIVE OFF WITHOUT
ANYBODY EVER SEEING THEM.
Narrator: BUT THE PLAN HIT A
SNAG WHEN ADNAN AND FLEKA
WEREN'T ABLE TO OPEN
THEIR REPLICA MANHOLE COVER.
IT WAS ALMOST MORE OF A COMEDY
THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
Narrator:
ON MARCH 31, 2008,
ADNAN ALISIC IS SENTENCED
TO 17 1/2 YEARS
IN A FEDERAL PENITENTIARY
FOR ARMED ROBBERY,
WHILE FLEKA GETS A LESSER
SENTENCE OF 6 1/2 YEARS.
NOW THAT YEARS HAVE PASSED,
ADNAN FEELS REPENTANT
ABOUT THE CRIME.
HE UNDERSTANDS THAT
HE TRAUMATIZED THESE GUARDS.
THEY WERE AFRAID
FOR THEIR LIVES,
ALTHOUGH THEY WERE IN
NO REAL DANGER FROM HIM.
HE WAS IN THE THROWS
OF A GAMBLING ADDICTION,
AND IT MADE HIM DO SOMETHING
THAT HE NEVER IMAGINED
HE WOULD DO.