The US court announced yesterday that US police discovered a 530-metre-long tunnel between the cities of San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico, during a drug trafficking investigation.
The transboundary tunnel, excavated more than 18 feet deep, had “reinforced walls and a track, electrical, and ventilation system,” according to a statement from the federal attorney for the Southern District of California.
The statement also states that six people living in the United States were charged with “competitiveness for smuggling 799 kg of cocaine.” In addition to this drug, authorities also seized 74 kg of methamphetamine and 1.5 kg of heroin.
Image: REUTERS/Jorge Duenes
U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents discovered the tunnel during a surveillance operation in front of a house used to store drugs on Friday.
The agents, who observed the movement of the suspects, came to the warehouse located 90 meters from the Mexican border. After examining the building, they found the tunnel entrance dug into the concrete floor.
“There is no more light at the end of this tunnel,” said attorney Randy Grossman.
“We will eliminate any illegal underground passages we can find to prevent illegal drugs from reaching our streets and destroying our families.”
Tunnels on the US-Mexico border are often dug by smugglers to promote the “American dream” or immigrants lure in drugs.
The United States is the world’s largest South American cocaine consumer.
According to US authorities, more than 90 tunnels have been discovered in California’s Southern District alone since 1993.
source: Noticias
