Cross-Border Tunnel Discovered Between Tijuana and San Diego Neighborhood

Mexican law enforcement officials have discovered another cross-border tunnel connecting Tijuana to a neighborhood in San Diego, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat organized crime and drug trafficking along the border.

According to Mexican authorities, the tunnel was discovered Sunday on the Mexican side of the border and stretched roughly the length of three football fields.

Officials say the underground passage was equipped with lighting, ventilation systems and a sliding mechanism connecting both sides of the border — signs of a highly sophisticated operation.

Authorities reportedly uncovered the tunnel while executing a search warrant tied to alleged violations involving weapons, explosives and health-related laws. Investigators say the property may have been used as a storage site connected to the trafficking of drugs, weapons and explosives.

Experts say tunnels like these have long been used by criminal organizations operating in the border region.

Dr. Andrés Sumano, a public policy expert, says the Baja California region has remained a key hub for synthetic drug trafficking since the 1990s, with underground tunnels continuing to play a role in smuggling operations.

Meanwhile, officials with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed they are conducting a criminal investigation into the tunnel discovered near the Otay Mesa area but declined to release additional details due to the ongoing case.

The discovery follows several similar tunnel busts in recent years. In 2022, authorities uncovered a tunnel connecting a home in Tijuana to a San Diego warehouse containing an estimated $25 million worth of drugs. In 2020, another tunnel seizure led to the recovery of roughly $30 million in narcotics.

Officials say the latest discovery comes at a time of heightened pressure from the U.S. government for Mexico to intensify efforts targeting cross-border drug trafficking networks.