A suspected drug-smuggling tunnel discovered last week in Tijuana is so extensive that authorities need oxygen tanks to reach its end. This latest find adds to the series of sophisticated tunnels unearthed over the years, highlighting the ongoing battle against drug trafficking across the U.S.-Mexico border.
The discovery was made after an anonymous tip led Mexican authorities to a property in Tijuana. When Mexico's National Guard arrived, they found someone digging on the site. Leopoldo Tizoc Aguilar Durán, Baja California's Secretary of Public Safety, confirmed that the tunnel connects to another one taken out of commission in 2022.
"It's attached to a tunnel that had been taken out of commission in 2022. We have three tunnels in that same area that have been constructed in the past," Aguilar told Border Report. The tunnel's length remains unknown due to insufficient oxygen, making it difficult for authorities to explore its entirety.
Aguilar and his team are currently acquiring oxygen tanks to complete their investigation. The tunnel is the first of its kind discovered in 2024, but the area remains under constant surveillance due to its history of tunnel construction.
In 2022, another elaborate underground passage was found, equipped with reinforced walls, a rail system, electricity, lighting, and ventilation. This tunnel ran from a home in Tijuana to a home in San Diego. Authorities seized 1,762 pounds of cocaine, meth, and heroin from a similar tunnel that year, highlighting the scale and sophistication of these operations.
The current tunnel discovery underscores the persistent issue of drug smuggling along the U.S.-Mexico border. While neither American nor Mexican authorities have confirmed that this tunnel was used for smuggling drugs, its existence points to the ongoing challenges in combating drug trafficking.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are leading the investigation on the U.S. side. An HSI spokesperson confirmed that they are tracking the situation and working on a formal statement.
The timing of this discovery is notable, given the recent figures published by the U.S. Defense Department showing a dramatic drop in Mexico's fentanyl seizures this year. In the first six months of 2024, Mexican federal forces seized only 286 pounds of fentanyl, a 94% decrease from the 5,135 pounds seized in the first half of 2023. This shift may reflect a change in focus, as methamphetamine seizures have reached record levels, with 400 tons seized last year and 168 tons so far in 2024.
The opioid crisis remains a significant concern in the U.S., with fentanyl linked to approximately 70,000 overdose deaths annually. The CDC reports that opioids account for 70% of all overdose deaths in the country, underscoring the urgency of addressing this public health emergency. California Governor Gavin Newsom has responded by more than doubling the number of National Guard troops along the state's southern border with Mexico to combat the influx of deadly drugs.
