Police in San Diego uncovered a deceptive store called “Buy 4 Less,” which had a secret entrance leading to a tunnel connecting to Tijuana. Four suspects have been charged in connection with this operation.
This tunnel, described as “sophisticated,” featured electricity and ventilation. Measurements suggest it’s about 1,933 feet long, with a depth of 55 feet and a height of 4.5 feet, along with reinforced walls.
The investigation began after officers observed suspicious behavior at the Otay Mesa store, noting the surprisingly low customer traffic over a period of several months.
Specifically, law enforcement noticed “employees” acting oddly—transporting what seemed to be empty suitcases in and out of the premises.
On two separate occasions, authorities witnessed people loading questionable items into vehicles parked outside the store. This led to multiple traffic stops, which resulted in a significant drug seizure.
In total, approximately 2,270 pounds of cocaine were confiscated during these operations. Subsequent to this, a search warrant for the store was approved, revealing the hidden tunnel.
The individuals charged include two U.S. residents: 29-year-old Gregorio Epifanio Hernández López from San Diego and 32-year-old Jose Jimenez, along with two Mexican nationals, Antonio Cortez, 18, and Brandon Escalante Sandoval, 26.
All four face distribution charges for a controlled substance, carrying a potential maximum sentence of life in prison and fines up to $10 million.
Additionally, Hernandez-Lopez has been accused of building, financing, and utilizing an unauthorized tunnel along with importing a controlled substance.
U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon emphasized the significance of this bust, describing it as a “cardiac arrest” for the cartel’s drug smuggling operations.
“Cocaine is essentially the lifeblood of these cartels. What we’ve done here today is deliver a serious blow to their organization,” he remarked at a news conference. “They believed they were seeing the light at the end of the tunnel; instead, they encountered our lights and sirens,” he added.
