A relatively new technique for smuggling drugs into the United States has been the launching of self-propelled semisubmersible (SPSS) vessels. These submersibles typically deliver drugs to other vessels at sea and then are scuttled after offloading and ultimately shipped vial land routes into the United States. On October 13, 2008, the Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act (DTVIA) was signed into law, and was a direct response to the use of SPSS vessels to transport vast amounts of illegal drugs through international waters to the United States. The enactment of the DTVIA is a potentially strong tool to deter the use of SPSS vessels to transport illegal drugs. Since its enactment, law enforcement agencies have encountered six SPSS vessels that were scuttled and sunk by its occupants in an attempt to avoid detection. 30 endnotes