NORTH KOREANS IN THE GULF OF MEXICO DAMAGE MEXICAN REEF

THE MU DU BONG WAS IN AN AREA PROHIBITED TO NAVIGATION AND DESTROYED CORAL

 Map: CIA WORLD FACT BOOK

 We previously reported on the strange movements of two North Korean merchant vessels in the Gulf of Mexico and compared their observed behaviors, movements, and use of AIS (Automatic information system) equipment compared to a known and caught arms smuggler, also of N. Korean registry a few months ago. We've suspected for some times that N. Korean ships are smuggling arms out of Cuba for terrorists organizations in the Middle East. The basic modus operandi seems to be to enter the Gulf of Mexico via the Panama Canal empty, turn off the ships AIS and eventually reappear in Cuba. In Cuba the weapons are on loaded then over loaded with sacks of sugar. With AIS silent the ships usually make a run for the Atlantic under cover of darkness. the MU DU BONG departed from the usual program and darted out of Cuba west bound. It eventually was reported loitering off Mexico. Finally it was found hard aground on a Mexican Coral reef in an area of Mexican territorial waters prohibited to ship traffic.

 Cuban Flag: CIA WORLD FACT BOOK

 N. Korean Flag: CIA WORLD FACT BOOK

 Mexican authorities report that the ship damaged approximately an acre of coral reef, crushed parts of 250 coral beds, including endangered Elkhorn coral just off the coast of Tuxpan on July 14, 2014. The ship was reported as found in an empty condition. Why was an empty ship loitering off Mexico for days? We think the North Koreans are performing a new service in the Gulf in addition to weapons smuggling for Middle Eastern Terrorists customers, we think they have become major maritime drug mules. The ship presently remains at anchor in the port of Tuxpan. It is unclear whether the Mexican government will take the Captain or any of the 30 crew members into custody for violation of their navigational and environmental safety regulations. Mexico has asked the North Korean government for a 10 million peso ($770,000) bond against the eventual coral damage assessment.  Good luck with that Mexico.

 We do have to wonder if our intelligence services are missing all these North Korean/ Cuban operations so close to our own EEZ and territorial waters. We doubt it since they are so obvious to commercial ship tracking services. Are we doing nothing? Or does it just seem that way? When will this administration act to protect America in our own back yard?

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