Authorities Discover Cross-Border Drug Tunnel
U.S. and Mexican officials have found a lengthy cross-border tunnel, stretching about 2,000 feet, which has resulted in the arrest of four individuals charged with trafficking nearly $45 million worth of cocaine.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California made this announcement in a press release on Monday, detailing this surprising development.
A task force from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began investigating a retail store in Otay Mesa, California, due to alleged suspicious activities related to several new employees reported in December 2025.
From December through May, investigators from the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tunnel Task Force observed the Buy 4 Less warehouse, where they noted unusual behavior, including the transportation of numerous suitcases out of the shop.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office noted, “The activity around the Buy 4 Less location did not appear to be consistent with a normal retail location.” They also reported there was noticeably low customer traffic.
On May 29th, a man was seen loading three large, hefty items into a white van parked near a mechanic shop on Coolidge Ave. Another individual, later identified as 26-year-old Escalante Sandoval, was observed cycling around the area, seemingly keeping watch.
The release detailed, “Escalante later approached the van, removed the vehicle key secretly hidden, and got into the van. He then backed it up to another van, which had its rear doors wide open, while a white stake bed truck pulled up.” Observers saw people transferring three deep freezers from the van onto the truck, filling them with packages afterward.
After Escalante left his bike near the truck, Jimenez, 32, got in and drove off. Following this, deputies stopped the truck, which led to a K9 search for drugs.
Another traffic stop was made involving Hernandez Lopez, 29, who was driving a different truck, which also underwent a K9 alert following observations made by agents at the Buy 4 Less.
Additionally, a search of the van driven by Cortez, 18, also prompted K9 alerts for controlled substances.
During inspections of the vehicles, federal agents discovered:
- 173 packages in one truck, weighing approximately 630.96 pounds
- 423 packages in another truck, totaling about 1,034.84 pounds
- 255 packages in the van, weight approximating 604.06 pounds
These packages tested positive for cocaine, amounting to a staggering total weight of about 2,269.87 pounds—over a ton.
The tunnel, originating from the “Buy 4 Less” and reaching into Tijuana, is about 1,933 feet long, 55 feet deep, and 4.5 feet high, featuring reinforced walls, rail systems, ventilation, and electricity.
Hernandez Lopez faces charges of Conspiracy to Use a Cross-Border Tunnel and Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances. All four defendants are charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, carrying maximum penalties of life imprisonment and a $10 million fine. Hernandez Lopez faces additional charges potentially leading to life imprisonment and another $10 million fine.
Kevin Murphy, acting Special Agent in Charge for HSI San Diego, commented, “This investigation and seizure represent a significant blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The discovery and destruction of this tunnel, along with over a ton of cocaine, highlight our commitment to dismantling transnational criminal operations.”
David King, Executive Director of the San Diego Imperial Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, added, “The drugs recovered from this sophisticated cross-border tunnel will thankfully never reach communities in California and the U.S., thereby saving countless lives from addiction and overdose.”
The defendants were arraigned on Monday afternoon, with records indicating that 99 tunnels have been uncovered in the Southern District of California since 1993.
