Crime

Mexican Army Finds Clandestine Smuggling Tunnel Under Arizona Border

(The Blaze/AP) – Mexico’s army has uncovered a 755-foot (230-meter) clandestine tunnel running under the Sonora-Arizona border that was used to smuggle drugs into the United States.

(Related: Drug Cartels in America: Sinaloa Cartel-Linked Cell Busted in AZ)

The Yuma Sun reports the tunnel had been used for more than six months to smuggle drugs northbound and weapons and cash southbound, according to Gen. Raul Guereca Valenzuela, head of the local military station.

Mexican Army Finds Drug Smuggling Tunnel Under San Luis, Arizona Border

A view of the main corridor of the drug tunnel found below San Luis on Saturday (Source: yumasun.com)

Mexico’s defense secretariat says the tunnel linked a soon-to-be-opened ice and purified water business in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora to a business in San Luis, Arizona.

Guereca said Saturday that the tunnel was 4.25 feet (1.3 meters) high and reached a depth of almost 60 feet (18 meters) below ground. It had electricity, ventilation and small cars to transport the drugs through the tunnel.

Officials did not say which cartel they thought had built the tunnel. As U.S. authorities have tightened land crossings, tunnels have become a popular way for Mexico’s cartels to smuggle drugs and people into the U.S.

The Yuma Sun reports the discovery was made possible due to binational coordination between authorities on both sides of the border. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing, however, a truck with Baja, Calif. plates was reportedly seized.

News reports do not mention any human smuggling taking place, but it is likely the tunnel could have been used for that as well.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Comments (57)

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  • CrawfishFestival2
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 1:11pm

    This Tunnel was probably built with Obama’s $787 BILLION Stimulus legislation.

    He said there were Shovel-ready Jobs!

    Report Post »  
    • GBGL
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 5:59pm

      These were “Tunnel Ready” jobs

      Report Post »  
  • mrawfull
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 10:26am

    Building a wall is not enough. They will just sneak underneath like cockroaches.

    Report Post »  
  • SweetOlBob
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 10:18am

    If the Mexican Army found it, it means that some Colonel or General wanted a raise from the smugglers and didn’t get it. Sorry, but the Mexican police and government forces have been, time and again, proven to be the most corrupt in this hemisphere.
    But don’t worry, there are some in South America who are rushing to catch up.

    Report Post »  
    • KidCharlemagne
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 10:39am

      A more plausible explanation than that though is that he was ordered to raid it by another competing cartel.

      Report Post »  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 12:38pm

      Just look at this one in the news. Oh isn’t it well-constructed….but don’t lookit the other hundred-or-so which are in use for ever. We gave this one to you so…lookie–lookie!!

      Report Post »  
  • Carlinpa
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 10:13am

    This is why I say you have to dig down to the bedrock , a ditch running along the entire border!

    Report Post »  
  • Apple Bite
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 9:58am

    The Borders are secure….these are not the tunnels you’re looking for.

    Report Post » Apple Bite  
  • leon II
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 9:25am

    BS on smuggling guns south. Unless it’s the guns holder give them for free. The Mexicans can get better guns (real automatics) for less from other sources outside the heavily regulated US.

    Report Post »  
    • EqualJustice
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 9:50am

      PFFFFTTT That‘s HOLDER’s tunnel now that he got BUSTED for Fast and Furious.

      Report Post » EqualJustice  
  • nzkiwi
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 9:10am

    In case you’re interested:

    Most of the world’s heroin is produced in Afghanistan (slightly more than 90%). From there it is shipped to Iran, which currently has the world’s highest rate of addition on a per capita basis. From Iran it is split up for various destinations, and one of the largest of these is Mexico.

    And from Mexico it goes north (mainly) and south.

    To avoid the obvious problems of a glut, there is currently two years supply, at current usage, being stored in Afghanistan and Iran. Much of the cash return of this trade is controlled by the Taliban who pay a little to the growers and manufacturers and add the rest to their bulging coffers. This money funds theirs and islamic terrorism, buys the support of the very poor Afghan people, and draws support away from the Karzai government, which is largely corrupt in itself, anyway.

    If the Taliban regains power it will raze the poppy fields again, as it is against Allah, but in the meantime it suits them to feed this insidious drug to the infidel.

    The whole thing is a gigantic mess, isn’t it.

    Report Post »  
    • KidCharlemagne
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 9:43am

      I don’t think it quite works out the way that you describe though:

      —————————————————
      “In Afghanistan it has always been a part of the culture there to grow opium poppies, as is true of Turkey, where over 100,000 farmers grow it today legally. However, the Taliban had all but wiped the crop out in Afghanistan in short order after they came to power until… the “war” in Afghanistan began. The year after the beginning of the occupation, (by both UN and US estimates) an over 3000% increase in the production of opium occurred over the Taliban days. As it remains to this day. This opium crop, which as the US Military admits, soldiers now stand guard over… supplies 92% of the illegally produced opium in the world supplying the majority of the heroin for both the United States and Europe. Somehow yet again, a monopoly has been created.”
      FOX News Geraldo Rivera explains why U.S. Military is guarding opium crops

      Report Post »  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 12:58pm

      During the 2nd-gulp war, WWEEE flew right over the popiefields with many tonza bombs. What woudda ben great woodda been an un-scheduled “OOOP-SEEE!!” of …oh ida know, mebbee a few tons osro of oopseedaisy.

      Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 9:04am

    Guns, drugs and terrorists……..welcome to America, no waiting in line, no TSA pat downs required.

    Report Post »  
    • Caniac Steve
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 9:30am

      And the DOJ & DHS ( Holder/and big sis) all swear the border is so well protected..with agents armed with bean bag guns you know !! gee i feel so warm/safe inside…don’t you ?

      Report Post » Caniac Steve  
    • Bill Rowland
      Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:27am

      With Epic Holdup and Fat Janet “Where are the doughnuts?” Nopalshere assuring us that the border is secure and encouraging BP Agents to avoid conflict and throw rocks, the tunnels will not be needed. There is a rumor that the next directive from Fat Janet and Homeland Security will be for agents to assist the smugglers so that they will not be injured from carrying all that dope. After they help them carry the dope into the US they will hand out flyers encouraging the smugglers to vote the Democrat ticket.

      OMG Nov 6, 2012

      Report Post »  
  • bemo234
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 8:49am

    Companies don’t hire them because they work for less per hour, I have worked for Construction Companies that hired Mexicans, as I understand it the only thing companies save when hiring Mexicans is on the compensation insurance and social security tax, they usually get about the same hourly wage but in cash.

    As for doing jobs that Americans won’t do, that’s a lot of bull crap as well! There are plenty of unemployed teenagers and unskilled people that would jump at some of these stolen opportunities.

    Illegal aliens are protected class according to the democrats/communist of our country because that is the Dummycrat idea of growing thir voter base, nothing more and nothing less.

    You have been sold out by the Democratic Party as they work to overthrow our way of life and you have been let down by the Republican Party which is too spineless to oppose our enemy’s.

    Report Post » bemo234  
    • Bum thrower
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 9:11am

      I could’t agrree more; Got some RINO’s this year; more in the coming years; just hope we are not too late.

      Report Post »  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 8:33am

    It’s laughable. We’re (U.S.A.) is laughable!

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
  • Wyatt's Torch
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 8:25am

    Did they “discover” this after the cartel finished the 4 lane express tunnel with EZ pass and no longer needed this rinky dink tunnel?

    Report Post » Wyatt's Torch  
  • KidCharlemagne
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 8:22am

    Despite total militarization of the 96-mile long Berlin Wall, the Soviets and the East Berlin police could never completely stop the tunneling going on underneath the wall into West Berlin either:

    —————————————–
    “Secret tunnels that brought freedom from Berlin’s Wall

    Old barrier between East and West pulls in tourists 20 years after its fall
    Sunday 18 October 2009

    When the East German government built the Berlin Wall in 1961 to prevent its citizens from leaving, the regime failed to take into account the ingenuity and creativity of those willing to risk anything to escape the communist system. While some flew over the barrier in hot air balloons, others sailed far around it, via the Baltic Sea, and still others were smuggled across, hidden in secret compartments in cars. But several hundred took advantage of the soft, sandy soil under Berlin to tunnel their way beneath the wall.”
    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/secret-tunnels-that-brought-freedom-from-berlins-wall-1804765.html

    Report Post »  
  • american_rose_126
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 8:16am

    huh. drugs north, GUNS and cash south…hmmm…hey Holder? What do you know about this?! And how long have you known it? Oh–and how much is your cut?? This tunnel has been used for ‘more than 6 months…’ part of Fast and Furious?! I wonder. The details all seem a little too vague.

    Report Post »  
  • starman70
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 8:01am

    Thanks to Obama, Holder and “Big Sis” Napolitano most of the resources for border control and drug enforcement have been taken out of Arizona. Here is another shining example of our Government at work. The only hope for control falls on the overworked sheriff’s deputies of the border counties and they are being thwarted by Washington at every turn.

    Report Post »  
  • mama6
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 8:01am

    I wonder if the “small cars” were Chevy Volts, probably provided by Barack Insane Obama!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • TelepromoterNChief
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 7:41am

    Looks like that was one of the more Obama shovel ready jobs success stories.
    Thank you Barrack, Erik and fat man Janet for protecting us.

    Report Post »  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 7:46am

      Took the thoughts right out of my mind! No wonder they worked so hard to overturn AZ immigration policy. Maybe the courts should reconsider passing the entire law.

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 3:04pm

      @Grandmaof5:

      On the money as usual; Obama has to be deep with these smugglers and the cartels.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • Desert Dog
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 7:41am

    Well there goes MX’s high speed rail system to AZ………………….

    Report Post » Desert Dog  
  • watman43
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 7:40am

    this is why they dont want voter ID. they are going to sneek in new voters from Holderville. This is why no arests. Fast and furious voter smuggling ! Did I hear TREASON

    Report Post »  
  • robert0418
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 7:17am

    Obamanation folks gave them stimulus money, OUR MONEY,
    this is ludicrous why have the folks that own the northern end
    of this amazing facility been arrested ? Or at least named…!
    ARE THEY FRIENDS OF HOLDER and POTUS

    Report Post » robert0418  
  • Mathchopper
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 7:12am

    So-o-o… why were the Mexicans first to discover? Oh-h-h yes-s-s… I forgot… our guys are laying low watching their backs.

    Report Post »  
  • Zip91187
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 7:05am

    Crazy to see stuff from the Sun up here…

    Report Post »  
  • Marsh626
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 6:48am

    Looks like they‘re using the construction expertise they’ve learned over here as “day laborers”. Anyone who hires illegal immigrants to do work is a traitor. And don’t give that crap about Americans being too lazy to work. You’re just a cheap SOB who wants to pay slightly less.

    Report Post »  
  • historyguy48
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 6:33am

    Comrades this isn’t the first tunnel found, nor will it be the last. As long as capitalists wish to flee this country in hope of a better life in Mexico these tunnels will still be built. And, of course, as long as their is a major need for drugs in Mexico some of these errant American Capitalists will work to supply the need.
    Remember, the Californian hash-hish fields are in full production, and in Washington the manure spills from the mouths of American politicians every day! So of course Americans are fleeing to Mexico, what would you expect?

    Next we will discuss the North/South Korean tunnels that were built so the poor, deprived, enslaved people of South Korea can flee into the True Workers Paradise of North Korea! With any kind of luck Dear Leader will make life here in America at least as wonderful as it is in North Korea! All you need to do is re-elect him and we WILL get there!

    Report Post » historyguy48  
  • coolbabe
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 6:25am

    No arrests have been made? Huh? How about the owners of those businesses? How exactly was the tunnel discovered? Hey, common sense says that if you own a business and build a tunnel under it for cartels then you might as well be involved. But our politically correct and humanistic politicians don’t even dare to assume it, obviously. This country is going down the drain. How many more tunnels are they? This is incredible hypocrisy – so the (corrupt) authorities want to say that people dig tunnels and nobody has a suspicion? Did they dig with shovels without using any equipment? Oh, yeah… We must pray for this country so that it’s not gone in next few years: please check out 714-project d o t c o m and join in prayer on July 14th. When 7 million (the goal) people are praying, there should be and will be results.

    Report Post » coolbabe  
    • coolbabe
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 6:30am

      *how many tunnels are there?
      **and nobody was suspicious?

      Report Post » coolbabe  
    • Meyvn
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 7:07am

      Yeah. I find it odd as well that they discover the tunnels but never use them to make arrests. Fishy.

      Report Post » Meyvn  
    • MAMMY_NUNN
      Posted on July 9, 2012 at 11:35am

      If they were smart they would monitor the tunnels and seize the products coming through giving the cartels a loss of profits.

      Report Post »  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on July 9, 2012 at 6:23am

    Did obama and Holder finance the building of this tunnel ?

    Report Post »  
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