A nearly 3,000-foot-long narcotics smuggling tunnel that was located beneath the border between the United States and Mexico was recently discovered and disabled by agents of the United States Border Patrol.
Beginning in the month of April, when the tunnel was still in the process of being constructed, agents discovered it. The tunnel connected Tijuana and San Diego.
According to an announcement made by the United States Customs and Border Protection, the underground passageway was located beneath a portion of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry and was anticipated to have an exit point either close to or inside of a commercial warehouse space in San Diego.
According to the announcement, when the authorities entered the “highly sophisticated” tunnel, they were approached by barricades that appeared to be placed in order to prevent law enforcement from locating the entrance to the tunnel.
A total of 2,918 feet in length, 42 inches in height, and 28 inches in width were the dimensions of the tunnel, which reached a depth of approximately 50 feet underground at its deepest point.
In order to facilitate the transportation of substantial quantities of illegal goods, it was outfitted with lighting, electrical wiring, ventilation systems, and a track installation.
On Monday, agents from the Border Patrol, in collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations and authorities from the Government of Mexico, discovered the entrance point to the tunnel inside a house located in the Nueva Tijuana neighborhood of Tijuana.
According to the announcement, the entrance had been recently covered up with tile that had been laid out specifically for that purpose.
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With the intention of preventing the tunnel from being utilized by Foreign Terrorist Organizations, the United States Customs and Border Protection has announced that thousands of gallons of concrete will soon be poured into the tunnel.
“As we continue to strengthen the nation’s air and maritime border security, it’s not surprising that foreign terrorist organizations would resort to underground routes,” Jeffrey D. Stalnaker, acting chief patrol agent of the San Diego Sector stated. “Disruption of narcotics smuggling tunnels is critical to protecting American lives.”
Over ninety-five tunnels in the San Diego area have been taken out of service since 1993.
