The Trump administration’s renewed focus on border security and cartel enforcement delivered another major victory this week after federal authorities uncovered a sophisticated cross-border drug smuggling tunnel linking Mexico to Southern California and seized more than one ton of cocaine worth an estimated $45 million.
The stunning discovery was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California following a months-long investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and its Homeland Security Task Force.
Four Charged with Trafficking More Than $45 Million Worth of Cocaine through Sophisticated Cross-Border Tunnel; Discovery Made in Monthslong Homeland Security Task Force Investigation https://t.co/si3qsk0pS5
USA Gordon: “Put directly, cocaine is now the lifeblood of the cartels,… pic.twitter.com/oskFhmMjRK— US Attorney CAS (@SDCAnews) June 1, 2026
According to federal authorities, the tunnel stretched from Tijuana, Mexico, to a warehouse-style retail business called “Buy 4 Less” near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego. The underground passage measured approximately 1,933 feet in length, descended roughly 55 feet below ground, and featured reinforced walls, electricity, ventilation systems, rail infrastructure, and a sophisticated hydraulic lift used to conceal its entrance.