At a depth of about 50 ft, a roughly half-mile-long tunnel connecting a house contained in the Nueva Tijuana neighborhood with a industrial warehouse throughout the border in San Diego County has been uncovered by federal authorities.
U.S. and Mexican authorities say they imagine the passage was dug to move large-scale contraband.
The tunnel measured 42 inches in top, 28 inches in width and was outfitted with electrical wiring, lighting, air flow techniques and a monitor system, in accordance with authorities.
No matter protected passage the tunnel supplied ended Monday when Border Patrol brokers shut down the development website with the help of Division of Homeland Safety officers and Mexican authorities.
“As we proceed to strengthen the nation’s air, and maritime border safety, it’s not stunning that overseas terrorist organizations would resort to underground routes,” Jeffrey D. Stalnaker, appearing chief patrol agent of the San Diego Sector, stated in an announcement. “Disruption of narcotics smuggling tunnels is essential to defending American lives.”
Border Patrol brokers from San Diego’s Tunnel Staff found the tunnel in April because it was actively underneath development however didn’t uncover the origin level till this week.
They mapped the tunnel and documented that it was 2,918 ft in size, which included greater than 1,000 ft throughout the U.S.
The tunnel ran beneath the Otay Mesa border level and was believed to have exited at a industrial warehouse.
As brokers tried to find the tunnel’s start line, they encountered barricades positioned by staff to inhibit legislation enforcement.
That entrance was finally found in Nueva Tijuana, a neighborhood only some blocks from the U.S. border.
Mexican federal and state authorities from Baja California executed a search warrant “for crimes in opposition to nationwide well being,” in accordance with a submit on X from Omar Hamid García Harfuch, Mexico’s secretary of Safety and Civilian Safety.
The doorway to the tunnel had been hidden underneath recentlyn positioned tile, in accordance with the Border Patrol.
Mexico’s Safety Cupboard confirmed that a package deal containing methamphetamine was seized contained in the tunnel.
“I’m grateful for the distinctive work of the Tunnel Staff brokers who positioned themselves at risk, in addition to the cooperation of our Mexican legislation enforcement companions,” Stalnaker stated.
Contractors are anticipated to pour hundreds of gallons of concrete into the tunnel, stopping its future utilization.
In 2022, authorities found an identical tunnel underneath Otay Mesa that was roughly 1,750 ft lengthy, 60 ft deep and 4 ft in diameter with bolstered partitions and a rail system.
Six folks had been finally charged with conspiracy to distribute practically a ton of cocaine.
Since 1993, greater than 95 tunnels have been discovered and decommissioned within the San Diego space, in accordance with the Border Patrol.
