Chivís Martínez for Borderland Beat
It has not been determined if tunnels were used for trafficking drugs, people or both.
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It has not been determined if tunnels were used for trafficking drugs, people or both.
This week two tunnels were detected along the United States, Mexican border just south of San Diego.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents made the discovery in Otay Mesa.
They were found at 10005 Marconi Drive and 10145 Via de la Amistad.
The tunnels are in an industrial area, within two miles south of the Mexican border.
The tunnel that exits inside the Via de la Amistad warehouse, has a 70-foot shaft and a pulley system designed to extract cargo out of the tunnel and into the warehouse. The warehouse filled with televisions and children’s toys, including plastic three-wheelers.
The tunnels have a tiered electric rail system extending along the 700-yard tunnel.
CBP reports a new tactic used by traffickers increasing the difficulty of detecting tunnels. Previously, traffickers used the tunnels in a continuous fashion, where upon the discovery of drugs would be found in conjunction with the tunnel.
In the new tactic, smaller shipments are sent, then access points sealed and the operation shut down for days before resuming activity. This makes its discovery increasingly difficult, as agents have relied on activity as a component to flagging trafficking tunnels
The access points have become camouflaged so well that without detection equipment they are indistinguishable from its surrounding..
In this case, a cementitious material was applied on the hatch top, then painted the same color as the overall floor.
The investigation that led to the discovery of the Via de la Amistad tunnel, was conducted over several months, followed by the second tunnel on Tuesday.
Only one person has been arrested so far, a 73-year-old Chula Vista woman has been arrested and faces federal charges.
There have been seven tunnels discovered in San Diego in less than four years.
Although agents did not speculate, tunnels are attributed to El Chapo and his Sinaloa cartel
Source: Information from press conference and press release
Although agents did not speculate, tunnels are attributed to El Chapo and his Sinaloa cartel
Source: Information from press conference and press release