The secret passage from Tijuana to San Diego featured rail and ventilation systems, electricity and reinforced walls, authorities said.
It was discovered near San Diego's Otay Mesa border crossing in an area where more than a dozen other sophisticated tunnels have been found in the last two decades.
The tunnel is in one of the most fortified stretches of the border, illustrating the limitations of former President Donald Trump's border wall. While considered effective against small, crudely built tunnels called"gopher holes," walls are no match for more sophisticated passages that run deeper underground.
Hard drugs, like heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl, are typically smuggled through official border crossings from Mexico because their small size and lack of odor make them difficult to detect. But tunnels give smugglers an advantage of being able to carry huge loads at lightning speed. They raided the properties - finding no other drugs at the warehouse, but a tunnel opening carved into the cement floor, federal prosecutors said.Many tunnels, including the one announced Monday, are in San Diego's Otay Mesa industrial area, where clay-like soil is conducive to digging and warehouses provide cover.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Big border-crossing tunnel found linking Tijuana, San DiegoU.S. authorities on Monday announced the discovery of an underground smuggling tunnel on Mexico’s border, running the length of a football field on U.S. soil to a warehouse in an industrial area.
Read more »
Two blocks of downtown San Diego to be redeveloped for affordable housing, retailThe state, the city and the developer will spend the next few months developing the project concept.
Read more »
Handmade replica Viking ship takes shape in a San Diego County backyardTom Kottmeier plans to ship his 33-foot wooden boat, built over the past two years, to Sweden in 2024 for a sail to Stockholm harbor.
Read more »
Major League Soccer continues to eye San Diego as attractive expansion candidateSources: Several groups pursuing MLS team that would play at San Diego State's Snapdragon Stadium
Read more »
COVID-19 Led to More Job Loss, Worsening Mental Health in Refugees in San DiegoAs San Diego prepares to welcome more refugees from around the world, a new study from UC San Diego shows the major challenges refugees have faced during pandemic. COVID-19 led to substantially more job loss and worsening mental health in refugees in San Diego. “We saw that folks in the refugee community had about 30% higher job loss than folks…
Read more »
Exploring San Diego: Things to do May 12 - 15Soar into the weekend with a wine festival, unlimited tacos, a huge neighborhood fair, and more.
Read more »