Border Patrol agents have discovered a nearly 3,000-foot-long drug smuggling tunnel under the U.S.-Mexico border.
The tunnel, which linked Tijuana to San Diego, extended more than 1,000 feet inside the United States and was considered “highly sophisticated” by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Border Patrol agents first discovered the tunnel in April as it was under construction, where they learned it was “equipped with electrical wiring, lighting, ventilation systems, and a track system designed for transporting large quantities of contraband,” CBP explained.
Agents further discovered “multiple makeshift barricades” that were placed “haphazardly by the tunnel workers in an apparent effort to impede agents’ southbound progress and the eventual identification of the tunnel’s origin.”
The tunnel measured 2,918 feet in total length, 42 inches in height, and 28 inches in width. It will soon be filled with thousands of gallons of concrete to render it useless.
“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,” said Jeffrey D. Stalnaker, Acting Chief Patrol Agent of the San Diego Sector. “Disruption of narcotics smuggling tunnels is critical to protecting American lives. 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.”
Border data for the month of May revealed that zero illegal immigrants were permitted into the country’s interior throughout that period. Detailing border encounters that month, Border Patrol reported 8,725 confrontations with illegal immigrants, a 93% drop from a year earlier. The average number of daily encounters with illegal immigrants nationwide, including ports of entry, was 952. The number is a 2% decrease from April 2025.
