‘Highly sophisticated’ border tunnel found under California-Mexico port of entry

An incomplete but highly sophisticated drug-smuggling tunnel between Tijuana and Otay Mesa was located and disabled by the U S Territory line Patrol functionaries revealed Wednesday The cross-border tunnel was actively under construction when it was uncovered by U S Boundary Patrol agents assigned to the sector s Tunnel Association in early April The association made entry into the passageway which ran beneath part of the Otay Mesa port of entry agents announced Representatives believe the tunnel s intended exit point was near or within a nearby commercial warehouse space Similar cross-border tunnels have been ascertained in the surrounding areas before An uncompleted smuggling tunnel between Tijuana and Otay Mesa uncovered by the U S Boundary Patrol in San Diego U S Perimeter Patrol When agents made the first entry into the tunnel they encountered multiple makeshift barricades These barricades were placed haphazardly by the tunnel workers in an apparent effort to impede agents southbound progress and the eventual identification of the tunnel s origin authorities announced in a press release The tunnel was equipped with electrical wiring lighting ventilation systems and a track system intended for transporting contraband the Frontier Patrol disclosed U S functionaries worked with Mexico to locate the tunnel s entrance Mexico s Secretariat of Defense and Citizen Protection first broadcasted the case in a press release on Wednesday morning Mexico s operation also included the Attorney General s Office the Army and the Navy The entrance which representatives noted had in recent months been concealed with newly installed tiles was determined inside a two-story home in the Nueva Tijuana neighborhood within close distance to the Otay Mesa port of entry A copy of one page of the search warrant could be seen posted to the house s fence on Wednesday afternoon Mexican functionaries revealed that an undisclosed quantity of methamphetamine was seized at the scene Neither U S nor Mexican executives communicated any arrests related to the case The tunnel s entrance was located inside a home in the Nueva Tijuana neighborhood a short distance from the Otay Mesa port of entry Alexandra Mendoza The San Diego Union-Tribune As we continue to strengthen the nation s air and maritime perimeter measure it s not surprising that foreign terrorist organizations would resort to underground routes stated Jeffrey D Stalnaker acting Chief Patrol Agent of the San Diego Sector Related Articles Search warrant adds more details about alleged smuggling boat that capsized off California coast Trump ramps up criminal charges against transients in California Cal Fire rescues three people trapped in drainage pipe under limit wall Mathews The Tijuana overflows with sewage Name it River Trump Bay Area activists denounce Trump s push to end migrant protections birthright citizenship Disruption of narcotics smuggling tunnels is critical to protecting American lives I m grateful for the exceptional work of the Tunnel Organization agents who placed themselves in danger as well as the cooperation of our Mexican law enforcement partners Authorities declared the tunnel had a total length of feet of which over feet extended into the United States Inside it measured inches in height and inches in width At its deepest point it ran approximately feet underground Nearly tunnels have been detected and shut down in the San Diego area since according to the Margin Patrol