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Feds say they shut down secret drug tunnel connecting Tijuana to San Diego

Evan Hummel (Producer), Kalé Carey (News Reporter)
Authorities have discovered and shut down an alleged drug tunnel linking Tijuana and San Diego used by cartels, according to CBP.
Image credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
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Summary

Discovery

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that it had shut down a nearly half-mile tunnel used by transnational gangs to smuggle drugs from Tijuana to San Diego.

Plan

Officials plan to fill the tunnel with thousands of gallons of concrete to prevent further drug operations within the underground network.

Ongoing problem

The discovery adds to the list of nearly 100 tunnels discovered by federal authorities in the San Diego area since 1993, according to CBP.

Full story

U.S. Border Patrol agents have shut down a more than half-mile tunnel linking Tijuana to San Diego with the help of U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents and Mexican law enforcement. Authorities have discovered nearly 100 illicit tunnels in the San Diego area since 1993.

Federal officials said gangs used the tunnel — 50 feet deep and nearly 3,000 feet long — to smuggle drugs into the United States.

“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 Border Patrol agent in San Diego, said in a statement on Wednesday, June 18. “Disruption of narcotics smuggling tunnels is critical to protecting American lives.”

What authorities found

Authorities say the tunnel connects a home in the Nueva Tijuana neighborhood of Tijuana, just blocks from the border, to a commercial warehouse in San Diego County. It was designed to accommodate large shipments of contraband. 

The tunnel is 42 inches high and 28 inches wide, complete with lighting, ventilation and a track system to move cargo, according to law enforcement.

Initial discovery

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports that since 1993, more than 95 underground tunnels have been discovered and shut down by authorities.

Border Patrol agents initially discovered the tunnel in April when it was still under construction. More than 1,000 feet of the tunnel is in the United States, but agents did not find its point of origin until this week. 

Workers had placed barricades to obstruct law enforcement efforts. 

Eventually, Mexican federal agents and state law enforcement officers from California accessed the tunnel after executing a search warrant that cited “crimes against national health,” according to a social media post from Omar Hamid Garcia Harfuch, Mexico’s secretary of security and civilian protection. 

The Border Patrol stated the main access point to the tunnel in Tijuana had been hidden in a house under a recently placed tile.

Drugs found inside tunnel

Mexico’s Security Cabinet also announced the seizure of a package filled with methamphetamine inside the tunnel on Thursday, June 19. 

“I’m grateful for the exceptional work of the tunnel team agents who placed themselves in danger, as well as the cooperation of our Mexican law enforcement partners,” Stalnaker said.

Officials plan to pour thousands of gallons of concrete into the tunnel to permanently shut down the illegal drug operations.

Similar discoveries

Authorities discovered a similar tunnel in 2022 under Otay Mesa, a community in San Diego County just north of the border. That tunnel was about 1,750 feet long, 60 feet deep and 4 feet wide. 

The tunnel featured reinforced walls and a rail system. Federal prosecutors charged six individuals connected to the operation with conspiring to distribute nearly a ton of cocaine.

Alan Judd (Content Editor), Shianne DeLeon (Video Editor), and Devin Pavlou (Digital Producer) contributed to this report.
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Why this story matters

The discovery and shutdown of a sophisticated cross-border tunnel between Tijuana and San Diego highlights ongoing efforts by authorities to combat illicit drug smuggling operations and strengthen border security.

Border security

The operation demonstrates ongoing challenges and law enforcement efforts to prevent illegal activity along the U.S.–Mexico border, as evidenced by statements from U.S. and Mexican officials.

Drug smuggling

Authorities report the tunnel was used for transporting narcotics such as methamphetamine, underscoring concerns about the methods criminal organizations use to facilitate drug trafficking.

Bilateral cooperation

Collaboration between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement was crucial in discovering, investigating, and neutralizing the tunnel, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in addressing cross-border crime.

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Context corner

Cross-border tunnels have been used for decades by organized crime groups to smuggle drugs, arms, and people. The Otay Mesa region is frequently targeted due to its industrial infrastructure and proximity to commercial routes. According to reporting, advances in tunnel engineering, logistical cooperation, and enforcement efforts reflect a long-standing 'cat-and-mouse' dynamic between traffickers and authorities.

History lesson

Historically, smuggling tunnels have been encountered for decades, with notable increases since the 1990s. Notable cases include extensive tunnels discovered in the early 2010s and 2020s, some exceeding 4,000 feet in length. Despite technological and enforcement advances, smuggling strategies adapt, sustaining a persistent challenge for border authorities in both countries.

Terms to know

Narcotunnel: An illegal underground passage used primarily for smuggling narcotics across borders. Otay Mesa: A commercial and industrial region straddling the U.S.–Mexico border, known as a hotspot for tunnel activity. Contraband: Goods smuggled illegally across borders, especially drugs. Cartels: Organized criminal groups involved in the trafficking of illegal substances and infrastructure such as tunnels.

Sources

  1. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol
  2. Mexican Government
  3. Omar H. Garcia Harfuch via X

Bias comparison

  • Media outlets on the left de-emphasize this story, largely omitting extensive coverage, while right-leaning sources emphasize the tunnel’s “massive” scale and “highly sophisticated” construction, framing it as a stark border security failure requiring decisive law enforcement action.
  • Not enough unique coverage from media outlets in the center to provide a bias comparison.
  • Media outlets on the right use charged language like “shut down” and “massive drug smuggling tunnel,” evoking urgency and threat, whereas center-leaning coverage maintains a more measured tone, highlighting operational cooperation including Mexican authorities’ involvement and the strategic importance of disrupting “foreign terrorist organizations.”

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Media landscape

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80 total sources

Key points from the Left

  • Border Patrol agents discovered a drug smuggling tunnel connecting San Diego and Tijuana in early April, as reported by the agency in a press release.
  • The tunnel measured 2,918 feet in total length and included features such as electrical wiring, lighting, ventilation systems and a track system for transporting contraband, according to preliminary indications.
  • It ran under the Otay Mesa Port of Entry and had an exit near a commercial warehouse, according to the Border Patrol press release.
  • Disrupting narcotics smuggling tunnels is essential for protecting American lives, as emphasized by the Border Patrol agency.

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Key points from the Center

  • In early April 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents uncovered an extensive drug trafficking tunnel beneath the US-Mexico border connecting Tijuana and San Diego.
  • The tunnel was found during active construction beneath part of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry after coordinated efforts by U.S. and Mexican authorities.
  • The tunnel featured lighting, electrical wiring, ventilation, a track system for contraband and barricades intended to delay law enforcement progress.
  • Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey D. Stalnaker emphasized that halting narcotics trafficking through tunnels is vital for the safety of Americans, and mentioned that large amounts of concrete will be poured soon to seal off the tunnel.

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Key points from the Right

  • U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered and disabled a tunnel connecting Tijuana, Mexico, to San Diego, California, which was nearly 3,000 feet long and equipped for narcotics smuggling.
  • Border Patrol agents found the tunnel while it was under construction in April and faced barricades put in place by workers to obstruct their progress.
  • The sophisticated tunnel had lighting, ventilation systems, and a rail track system, indicating its purpose for transporting drugs.
  • Jeffrey D. Stalnaker, acting chief patrol agent, stated that disrupting narcotics smuggling tunnels is critical to protecting American lives.

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Sources

  1. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol
  2. Mexican Government
  3. Omar H. Garcia Harfuch via X