US: 'Most sophisticated' cross-border tunnel discovered between Mexico and Arizona

US Federal nts on August 6 discovered “most sophisticated tunnels in US history” stretching from Mexico to Arizona, intended for smuggling. Tunnels were excavated beneath  dunes near Yuma, San Luis, Arizona, and into San Luis Río Coloro, Mexico. Tunnels were equipped with ventilation systems, water lines, electrical wiring, a rail system, and extensive reinforcement, federal officials confirmed, according to news ncy reports. 

This appears to be most sophisticated tunnel in U.S. history, and certainly, most sophisticated I've seen in my career, acting chief patrol nt with Border Patrol's Yuma Sector, Carl E. Landrum said.

In late July, HIS nts deployed on Soran Desert on American side of international border discovered a “suspicious” sinkhole between primary border wall and secondary wall. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations said that it appeared to be case of a cross-border tunnel smuggling, and ded up to an existing investigation, news ncy report confirmed. Furr, on July 27, Border Patrol nts drilled site and discovered a 3-feet-by-4-feet deep dent. Furr excavating downward, officials found pieces of wood and water hoses at 25 ft. Eventually,  Federal law enforcement from HIS found that tunnel, in fact, ran 1,300 feet south of border at Calle 10 and Ave. Capitan Carlos G. Calles in San Luis, Mexico, and continued rth into 1300 block of Los Olivos neighborhood of San Luis, Arizona. 

What makes this one unique is that terrain in Yuma is very hard—An assistant special nt in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HIS), a division of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Yuma, Angel Ortiz said.

Furr, he ded, sand is very loose, and most of m end up caving. So  fact that material was very well built and it h ventilation, it h water, it h a rail system with walls, roof, floor, electrical, makes this one a very unique of tunnel.

[In this undated photo provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, excavation work continues at a site of an incomplete tunnel intended for smuggling, found stretching from Arizona to Mexico. Courtesy of ICE via AP]

[Photo provided by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, shows excavation work continues at a site of an incomplete tunnel intended for smuggling, found stretching from Arizona to Mexico. Courtesy of ICE via AP]

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Drugs and people supplied

long tunnel extended up to a n-operational old Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant about 200 yards (180 meters) in San Luis, Arizona,  HSI said, in a news ncy report. While purpose of tunnel exactly remained unclear, and an investigation was ongoing, HIS nts predicted that drugs and people were supplied through it across border. ditionally, y pointed out, builders deployed “heavy machinery” to construct it “for months”.  

In August 2018,  authorities detained eatery owner Ivan Lopez in connection with drugs methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl recovered in back of his pickup truck. While Lopez pleed guilty to one count charge related to smuggling, he was sentenced to 7-year prison, news ncy cited  court records. 

[US Immigration and Customs Enforcement show a section of an incomplete tunnel intended for smuggling, found stretching from Arizona to Mexico. Courtesy of ICE via AP]

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(With ncy Inputs)

(Im Credit: AP)