Massive Drug Tunnel BUSTED — Border Breach Exposed

Border Patrol agents unearthed a sophisticated 3,000-foot drug smuggling tunnel equipped with lighting, ventilation, and rail tracks connecting Tijuana to San Diego, marking the 95th such discovery since 1993 and highlighting cartels’ persistent efforts to bypass increased security at official entry points.

Key Takeaways

• The nearly 3,000-foot tunnel extended from a Tijuana home to underneath the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, reaching 50 feet below ground
• The sophisticated passage featured electrical wiring, lighting, ventilation, and a rail system for transporting contraband
• Mexican authorities found the tunnel’s origin concealed under freshly laid tile in a Nueva Tijuana home
• CBP plans to permanently disable the passage by filling it with thousands of pounds of concrete
• Since 1993, authorities have discovered and decommissioned over 95 similar tunnels in the San Diego area

Sophisticated Underground Network Discovered

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents made a significant discovery in April when they uncovered an unfinished narcotics smuggling tunnel extending nearly 3,000 feet from Tijuana, Mexico, to underneath the Otay Mesa Port of Entry near San Diego. The tunnel, measuring approximately 40 inches in height and 30 inches in width, descended about 50 feet below ground at its deepest point. This engineering feat represents the latest example of the increasingly sophisticated methods drug cartels employ to transport illicit substances across the southern border despite President Trump’s continued efforts to strengthen border security.

The tunnel featured an impressive array of infrastructure, including electrical wiring, lighting, ventilation systems, and a track system for efficiently moving contraband. Border Patrol agents discovered makeshift barricades placed by tunnel workers, apparently intended to hinder the agents’ progress and conceal the tunnel’s origin. The projected exit point was strategically positioned near or within a commercial warehouse space on the U.S. side, which would have provided an ideal location for discreetly offloading smuggled goods had the tunnel been completed.

Strategic Location and Tactical Advantages

After U.S. authorities alerted their Mexican counterparts, a search warrant led to the discovery of the tunnel’s origin point concealed under freshly laid tile in a home in Nueva Tijuana. The location was no accident, according to experts familiar with cartel operations. The Otay Mesa area provides ideal conditions for such clandestine construction projects, offering natural cover for illicit activities while maximizing efficiency for drug transportation networks seeking to penetrate U.S. defenses.

U.S. Border Patrol agents say they uncovered and disabled a large-scale drug smuggling tunnel leading to San Diego from Tijuana. And, raising a flag to celebrate Juneteenth. Plus: The Hotel Del Coronado’s 6-year, $550 million makeover is complete. https://t.co/DYxYWjfIto

— NBC 7 San Diego (@nbcsandiego) June 19, 2025

“The type of soil, the urban noise, traffic in the area, we have a port of entry where not only vehicles cross daily, thousands of them, pedestrians, and also trucks cross to the U.S,” said Victor Clark, Border expert

The discovery comes at a time when border authorities report that tunnels, while historically significant, have become a less common method for drug transportation in recent years. The shift is primarily due to changing tactics by cartels, who have adapted to increased scrutiny at official ports of entry. However, the DEA suggests cartels may be returning to tunnel construction as a response to the Trump administration’s intensified pressure on smugglers at traditional crossing points, forcing them to revert to more elaborate and resource-intensive methods.

Ongoing Border Security Challenges

The San Diego Sector Tunnel Team, which found the tunnel in early April while it was still under construction, has been at the forefront of combating this underground threat. Since 1993, authorities have discovered and decommissioned over 95 tunnels in the San Diego area alone, highlighting the persistent and evolving nature of drug trafficking operations targeting the United States. To prevent any future use of this passage, CBP has announced plans to fill the tunnel with thousands of pounds of concrete, permanently disabling it.

“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. Disruption of narcotics smuggling tunnels is critical to protecting American lives,” said Jeffrey D. Stalnaker, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the San Diego Sector

This discovery underscores the ongoing challenges faced by U.S. border security agencies in combating the ingenuity and resources of international drug trafficking organizations. Despite increased enforcement measures and technological advancements in border security under President Trump’s leadership, cartels continue to invest millions in underground infrastructure, demonstrating their determination to maintain drug supply lines into the United States. The extensive network of previously discovered tunnels serves as a stark reminder of the persistent threat posed by these criminal enterprises and the critical importance of maintaining vigilance along our southern border.