Border Patrol uncovers massive drug-smuggling tunnel beneath U.S.-Mexico border

By lauraharris // 2025-06-23

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U.S. authorities uncovered a nearly 3,000-foot-long drug-smuggling tunnel from Tijuana to San Diego, equipped with lighting, ventilation, electrical wiring and a rail system.
The tunnel, discovered under the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, reached depths of 50 feet and had its entry point hidden beneath tile in a Tijuana home, with the exit aimed at a San Diego warehouse.
The tunnel was shut down through a joint operation involving U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations and Mexican authorities. It will be permanently filled with concrete to prevent future use.
Otay Mesa is a known hotspot for cross-border tunnels; over a dozen have been found there in the past 20 years, including a 2022 tunnel that led to large drug seizures and multiple arrests.
Officials warn that such tunnels pose risks not only for narcotics trafficking but also for potential use by terrorist organizations, reinforcing the need for continued vigilance at the U.S.-Mexico border.

U.S. Border Patrol agents, working in coordination with Homeland Security Investigations and Mexican authorities, have uncovered and shut down a nearly 3,000-foot-long drug-smuggling tunnel stretching from Tijuana, Mexico to San Diego, California. The subterranean passage, discovered in early April beneath the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, is described by officials as a "highly sophisticated" tunnel that was actively under construction when agents found it. According to a statement released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the tunnel reached depths of about 50 feet and featured a full suite of illicit infrastructure: Lighting, ventilation, electrical wiring and even a rail system to transport narcotics. (Related: 55 Tons of meth ingredient seized at Port of Long Beach in California.) Measuring 2,918 feet in length, 42 inches in height and 28 inches wide, the tunnel originated inside a residence in the Nueva Tijuana neighborhood of Tijuana. Investigators said the entry point had been disguised beneath freshly installed tile flooring. The exit was projected to open inside or near a commercial warehouse facility in San Diego. Barricades were strategically placed within the tunnel to block access and obscure the entrance, CBP said, suggesting traffickers took deliberate steps to delay law enforcement discovery. Authorities now plan to permanently seal the tunnel using thousands of gallons of concrete to prevent it from being repurposed for future smuggling efforts or potentially exploited by terrorist networks. Officials did not disclose whether any arrests have been made in connection to the tunnel's construction or ownership. The investigation remains ongoing. "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," said Jeffrey D. Stalnaker, acting chief patrol agent of the San Diego Sector. "Disruption of narcotics smuggling tunnels is critical to protecting American lives."

Otay Mesa: A hotbed for sophisticated tunnel operations

The Otay Mesa area has long been a hotbed for sophisticated tunnel operations, with more than a dozen discovered in the last two decades. In 2022, federal authorities also discovered a major cross-border drug smuggling tunnel stretching from Tijuana, Mexico, to a warehouse in San Diego's Otay Mesa industrial zone. The tunnel, which spans roughly the length of six football fields, approximately one-third of a mile (532 meters), featured reinforced walls, electricity, ventilation and a rail system to quickly move large quantities of contraband underground. At its deepest point, the tunnel descends nearly six stories and measures about 4 feet (1.2 meters) in diameter. The U.S. exit point opened into a nondescript warehouse labeled "Amistad Park," located along a street that buzzes with commercial traffic during the day but is largely deserted at night. A small shaft at the warehouse site, equipped with a ladder descending into the tunnel, was being guarded by armed personnel. In connection with the discovery, authorities seized a significant cache of narcotics: 1,762 pounds (799 kilograms) of cocaine, 165 pounds (75 kilograms) of methamphetamine and 3.5 pounds (1.6 kilograms) of heroin. Six Southern California residents have been charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine. Though hard drugs like meth and heroin are often smuggled through legal ports of entry due to their compact size and odorless nature, tunnels like this one allow traffickers to move bulk quantities quickly and covertly, making them an attractive alternative for large-scale smuggling operations. Just like the recent tunnel discovery, the tunnel from 2022 investigation was permanently sealed with concrete to prevent future use. Follow DrugCartels.news for more news about the Mexican drug cartels. Watch this Feb. 20 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about the U.S. military planning to wage war on drug cartels.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

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Otay Mesa: A hotbed for sophisticated tunnel operations

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