New 755-foot narco tunnel discovered under Arizona-Mexico border
For six months, the tunnel was used to smuggle drugs from San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico to San Luis, Arizona.
The Mexican army has uncovered a 755-foot tunnel under the Sonora-Arizona border used to smuggle drugs into the U.S.
Mexico’s Ministry of Defense said the tunnel on the Mexico side was dug out underneath a purified water and ice business called Ice Land, which was supposed to open to the public soon in San Luis Rio Colorado. The tunnel made its way under the border and emerged in San Luis, Arizona, inside another supposed business located in the corner of Urtuzuastegui and Archibald Streets, northwest of the San Luis Port of Entry.
“No one ever noticed anything,” said Alfonso Barragán, owner of wholesale store La Mexicana, located next to the business where the tunnel was discovered in San Luis, Arizona. “My wife rented that space to a 70 or 75 year-old man; in fact the last lease was signed about eight days ago,” he added.
“It was always empty and it had been remodeling for months,” Barragán said of the tunnel’s exit location. “I believe it was supposed to be a messenger company… [the man who rented the location] told us they hadn’t opened it yet because they didn’t have the licenses,” he said.
The 4.25-feet high and 60-feet deep tunnel was equipped with electricity, ventilation and small cars to transport drugs through it, the AP reports.
The tunnel was equipped with small cars to transport drugs throughout it.
It had been used for more than six months to smuggle drugs northbound and weapons and cash southbound, The Yuma Sun reports.
“No arrests have been made,” said Gen. Raul Guereca, head of the local military station. However, the property is guarded by military personnel while federal police continue their investigation.
“It’s a very well elaborated tunnel. Finding it was possible thanks to binational coordination between Mexican and United States’ authorities,” said Gen. Guereca.
Officials have not yet said which cartel may have built the tunnel. However this is not something new. Recently, tunnels have become a popular way for Mexico’s cartels to smuggle drugs and people into the U.S. as seen last year in Nogales.
“We don’t rule out other smuggling tunnels in San Luis Rio Colorado; criminals will always try to transport their merchandise through some other place, but we will always try to avoid it,” said Gen. Guereca.
(Photos: Courtesy of Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional)
