The decision by the British government to scale down its naval presence in the region, has caused many in the Caribbean to be very concerned.

A BBC Caribbean Report stated on Tuesday that the Antigua and Barbuda National Security Minister, Dr Errol Cort, says recent sightings  of a drug submarine in Caribbean waters indicate just how serious the drug trafficking problem remains in the Caribbean.

He says the ongoing clampdown on drug networks in Mexico has resulted in an increase in drug trafficking especially in the waters of the southern and north-eastern Caribbean.

He revealed that quite troubling "for the first time in the history of the north-eastern Caribbean" a semi-submersible submarine used to ship illegal drugs has been spotted in the area.

It is not known what became of the submarine.

Cort called for more regional collaboration and a greater involvement of American, French and Dutch navies that still have a presence in the region, to combat the drug traffickers.