Mexico Uncovers Drug Trafficking Tunnel Linking Tijuana to San Diego, Equipped With Ventilation and Sliding Cargo System

Mexican federal authorities said they discovered a 265-meter underground tunnel in the border city of Tijuana that likely connects to a street in San Diego, California, in what officials described as a blow to cross-border drug trafficking operations.

Mexico's Attorney General's Office (FGR) said the tunnel was found during a raid carried out by agents from the Criminal Investigation Agency (AIC) at a property in the Nueva Tijuana neighborhood. The operation was tied to an investigation into alleged violations of firearms and health laws.

According to the FGR, the tunnel was built approximately 6.3 meters underground and included lighting, ventilation systems and an electronic sliding mechanism designed to move cargo in both directions between Mexico and the United States. Authorities said investigators determined the property was likely being used as a center for the storage and trafficking of weapons, explosives and illicit substances.

During the search, agents seized ammunition, suspected methamphetamine and marijuana, as well as cellphones and documents, officials said. "The tunnel probably connects with a known street in San Diego, California," the FGR said in a statement.

The agency described the discovery as "a direct blow" to transportation routes and logistical networks used by criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking. The tunnel and the seized materials remain under federal custody as prosecutors continue the investigation.

Cross-border tunnels have long been used by organized crime groups operating along the U.S.-Mexico border to transport drugs, weapons and cash while avoiding official ports of entry. Authorities on both sides of the border have uncovered dozens of similar structures in the Tijuana-San Diego corridor over the past two decades, many equipped with rail systems, ventilation and electricity.

Mexican authorities did not identify any suspects linked to the newly discovered tunnel.