US Coast Guard drug bust (submarine)

Hi folks!

Came across this news video by the USCG, where they intercept a semi-submersible submarine that was carrying a massive amount of drugs. Special object of interest around the 1:10 mark.

Probably someone on here will be able to identify the light used, but I was more interested in this:
a) Officer appears to be pulling the light out, clicks it on (fail? :nana: ), and then tightens the tailcap. Would this be standard procedure to have the light on his belt with the tailcap locked out? Did he 'slip up' a bit there? Or would each officer be free to decide for him/herself to carry that light ready-to-go or locked out?
b) Would this be some department-issue light, or would a US Coast Guard office be free to pick which light to carry on the job?

No special interest on my part, just wondering...

Looks like a SF to me. But which model, I don't know.

A story about smuggling, secret subs, millions of dollars, and addictive substances, and all we notice are the flashlights.

Yup, this must be candlepowerforums.

It's likely a SF L1 Lumamax

That tailcap is momentary press & twist on.

He probably started by holding the button & then quickly realized that he needed constant on while moving around rather than think about holding his thumb down tightly.

Here's a thread with old SF lights:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...-Catalog-of-Discontinued-Surefire-Flashlights

FroggyTaco said:

He probably started by holding the button & then quickly realized that he needed constant on....

Click to expand...

Yup. I'm pretty sure you can see a little splash of light on the wall above the door at 1:13-1:14, before he twists the tailcap. So it was on already, not locked out.

SF 6 series, with a bezel filter.

The first light looks like First Light USA Tomahawk.

Some brave guys boarding that sub how they did. I have seen picks of the insides of those subs and saw Ak-47's in them. They found one a while back being built in what looked like a jungle. Pretty amazing build considering where they did it, in such a remote area.

My first thought was how many of them make it to the US? Also, I am sure this loss is a calculated risk. They probably send 10 knowing 1 or two will sink or get busted?

My next thought, is how & where do they unload so much? I guess a few miles off coast to a boat? Or some secluded dock?

Next thought, wonder if those guys carry a spare light? Like a E1B? If it were me, I would probably have 5 or 6 lights. lol

Good video post.
I gave my 6P to my brother and went with a Malkoff MD2 for work. I like the Malkoff but I much prefer the twisty/pressure switch of the SF to the clicky tail cap of the Malkoff.

Well my first thought about those smugglers was something along the lines of "amateurs!".

I mean, if a drugs cartel stands to make such a ridiculous profit from a shipment this big, why not use a proper submarine? One that can actually dive, for starters...
Or a jet-powered airplane (vs. propeller-powered one), that has dropped its load & pulled out before the law enforcement + air force apparatus has a chance to scramble their jets and actually intercept the plane.

But perhaps it just shows that the drugs are a (relatively) cheap raw material until it succeeds in entering the US. Beside the submarine crew being expendable, of course. :sigh:

I would like to think an unidentified jet would be shot down if homeland security is awake.

Doubtful - that would mean civilian aircraft shot out of the sky regularly as a result of transponder failures, flight plans that somehow got lost or screwed up, etc. Perhaps an appropriate response in war times, but not in peace time when the vast majority of aircraft are civilian.

So I'd expect a 'surprise' aircraft to be intercepted, escorted, forced to land somewhere, searched & occupants questioned. Or something like that. Of course this assumes the ability to reach that aircraft in a required amount of time - anywhere along the border. It isn't hard to imagine that a fast jet may slip through such defenses.

I am reminded of "tap-rack-bang," lots of lights have a lockout on head or tail.

Never underestimate the level of training that has gone into ANY real-world deployed system. Much of it becomes reflex and muscle memory.

If you need it on now and NOW, you can't wait for RMA. Time for plan b.

Anyway it is great they caught those guys. I edited out the off topic part.

Call the USGG, PIO and ask them.

recDNA said:

Y
I have a radical idea on winning the war on drugs. Decriminalize everything. Prices drop. No market here for foreign drugs. Drug lords go broke. Junkies don't need to rob you. They kill themselves on cheap legal drugs. You could tax newly legalized drugs to pay for treatment programs for any who actually want to kick. Anyway it is great they caught those guys.

Click to expand...

The decriminalize everything concept is a theory based in fantasy stoked by libertarian "economics."

Uh, I think this is pretty off-topic stuff here.

Sure, I have opinions on these issues, too, but this is not the forum for debating them.

So...how about them lights, huh?

lampeDépêche said:

Uh, I think this is pretty off-topic stuff here.

Sure, I have opinions on these issues, too, but this is not the forum for debating them.

So...how about them lights, huh?

Click to expand...

Yes you're right. So the guy unscrewed the tailcap and forgot to do a gear check before the interdiction. There isn't much to discuss about the light.

I wrote a reply but then read the off topic comment and I agree so I edited it out.