❓WHAT HAPPENED: Border Patrol agents discovered a sophisticated cross-border smuggling tunnel connecting California to Tijuana, Mexico.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Mexican law enforcement officials.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The tunnel was discovered in April under the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego, with its entrance in Mexico finally discovered earlier this week.
💬KEY QUOTE: “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.” – Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey D. Stalnaker.
🎯IMPACT: The discovery highlights ongoing dangers to the U.S. at the southern border and the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on them.
Border Patrol agents in San Diego, California, have uncovered a sophisticated smuggling tunnel connecting California to Tijuana, Mexico. The tunnel, which reportedly extended over 1,000 feet into the U.S., was discovered by the San Diego Sector Tunnel Team in April under the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
The tunnel, still under construction, included a rail track for moving cargo, as well as electrical wiring, lighting, and ventilation systems. According to officials, the passage was about 50 feet underground at its deepest point and measured 42 inches in height and 28 inches in width.
Jeffrey D. Stalnaker, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the San Diego Sector, stated, “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.” He emphasized the importance of disrupting narcotics smuggling tunnels to safeguard American lives.
Agents encountered makeshift barriers designed to hinder their movement south through the tunnel. However, earlier this week, they identified a possible exit point in Mexico and coordinated with Mexican law enforcement, who later executed a search warrant at a residence in Nueva Tijuana. The tunnel’s entrance was found concealed under freshly laid tile.
Officials believe the tunnel was intended to transport large quantities of drugs into the United States. This discovery comes amidst ongoing efforts to address cross-border smuggling, including legislation passed by the House of Representatives in March requiring annual reports to Congress on such tunnels.
While President Donald J. Trump‘s tougher border policy has led to a massive decline in illegal immigration, drug smuggling remains a problem at the southern border. Last month, a woman was caught smuggling enough fentanyl in her body to easily kill her if the package had leaked in any way.
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