The longest cross-border drug-smuggling tunnel was found along the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Wednesday.
The drug-smuggling tunnel originates in an industrial area in Tijuana, a border city in Mexico and extends north into San Diego, California. A portion of the tunnel is under a newly fortified border wall.
According to CBP officials, the drug smuggling tunnel has a total length of 4,039 feet or more than three-quarters of a mile. It is approximately five and a half feet tall and two feet wide and its depth from the surface is 70 feet. It is equipped with an extensive rail/cart system, forced air ventilation, high voltage electrical cables and panels, an elevator at the tunnel entrance, and a complex drainage system.
SDTTF, an inter-agency unit consisting of agents from USBP, HSI, DEA, and USAO, discovered the location of drug smuggling tunnel after months of investigation and tireless law enforcement.
In a statement, Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Aaron Heitke said, “I am thrilled that this high-level narco-tunnel has been discovered and will be rendered unusable for cross-border smuggling. I am proud of the tremendous efforts of the Tunnel Task Force and our agents.”
