SAN DIEGO, CA — A 1,900-Foot smuggling tunnel stretching from Tijuana to Otay Mesa was shut down by law enforcement officials following a dramatic $45 million drug bust, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
According to federal prosecutors the tunnel connected a Tijuana drug ring to a fake "Buy 4 Less" storefront where tons of drugs were loaded up into vans for distribution in the United States. It's the first major drug tunnel discovery since 2022.
"Yesterday, following a months-long investigation by the Homeland Security Task Force, authorities discovered a sophisticated cross-border tunnel connecting Tijuana, Mexico, to a building posing as a retail store in Otay Mesa, California, near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry," said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. "This case reflects our unwavering commitment to dismantling cartels, stop the flow of dangerous drugs into our communities, and keep American families safe."
The investigation and seizure marks a significant blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, added evin Murphy, acting Special Agent in Charge for HSI San Diego.
Gregorio Epifanio Hernandez Lopez, 29, of San Diego; Jose Jimenez, 32, of San Diego; Antonio Cortez, 18, of Mexico; and Brandon Escalante Sandoval, 26, of Mexico have all been arrested and charged with crimes, accused of being seen driving the vehicles in question prior to being stopped by agents, and multiple other charges.
Over six months of surveillance, officers noted suspicious activity at the San Diego County "Buy 4 Less" storefront.
Starting in December, investigators monitored groups of "supposed employees" in and around the store, though the location did not appear consistent with a typical retail setting. They also noted there was "minimal foot traffic from customers coming in and out of the Buy 4 Less store," according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Last Friday, agents stopped a van and two trucks that either departed "Buy 4 Less" or received cargo from a vehicle that had left the store.
Agents found a combined 2,269.87 pounds or well over a ton of cocaine in more than 850 packages inside the three vehicles, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
According to the complaint, following the traffic stops, federal agents discovered the following during inspections of the second van and two trucks:
The "Buy 4 Less" storefront was searched, revealing the tunnel's exit point, which was hidden beneath the floor of a storage room.
The U.S. Attorney's Office says the tunnel is about 55 feet deep and extends 1,064 feet from the store to the U.S.-Mexico border, then is estimated to extend another 800 feet to its entry point. The tunnel is accessed by "a sophisticated hydraulic lift" and is equipped with electricity and ventilation, prosecutors said.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the tunnel is one of 99 discovered in the Southern District of California since 1993, and the first since 2022.
“Criminal organizations continue to look for ways to exploit our border, but they underestimate the determination of the men and women protecting it,” said U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Justin De La Torre. “This tunnel’s discovery is a testament to our strong partnerships and the unwavering commitment of law enforcement on both sides of the border.”
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