On June 23, 2025, Mexican and U.S. authorities uncovered a clandestine narco tunnel connecting Tijuana, Baja California, to San Diego, California. The tunnel, discovered during a joint operation involving Mexico’s National Defense Secretariat (Sedena), the Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR), and U.S. Border Patrol, was found beneath a residential property in the Nueva Tijuana neighborhood.
Stretching over 600 meters, the tunnel was equipped with rudimentary support beams and showed signs of long-term use, including moisture damage and structural wear. Authorities believe it was constructed more than a decade ago, likely by organized crime groups for the trafficking of drugs and people across the U.S.-Mexico border.
Inside the property, law enforcement seized multiple packages of methamphetamine, and one individual was arrested on suspicion of ties to a criminal organization. Although the tunnel extended toward an industrial zone near the Otay Mesa commercial crossing in San Diego, it lacked a functional exit on the U.S. side, suggesting it may have been abandoned or under reconstruction.
This discovery adds to a growing list of transborder tunnels found in recent years, highlighting the persistent challenge of underground smuggling routes. Officials from both countries emphasized the importance of binational cooperation in dismantling such infrastructure. “We are working closely with U.S. authorities to seal the tunnel and continue the investigation,” said Laureano Carrillo, Baja California’s Secretary of Public Security.
The incident has reignited calls for enhanced surveillance and intelligence-sharing along the border. As traffickers adapt to increased scrutiny above ground, subterranean routes remain a favored method for evading detection. Authorities are now analyzing the tunnel’s construction to trace its origins and identify other possible entry points in the region.
Source: Newsweek Español
