Federal investigators have discovered a sophisticated underground tunnel extending from Mexico into Southern California, seizing over a tonne of cocaine valued at around $45 million. This operation dealt a significant blow to a powerful Mexican drug cartel. Four individuals have been charged in connection with this case after a lengthy surveillance effort exposed the covert smuggling route beneath a purported retail store near the US-Mexico border.
The subterranean passageway, which ran from Tijuana, Mexico, to a store named “Buy 4 Less” near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in California, measured approximately 1,933 feet in length. Equipped with reinforced walls, electricity, ventilation systems, and a rail network, the tunnel extended about 55 feet below ground. The charged individuals include Gregorio Epifanio Hernandez Lopez and Brandon Escalante Sandoval from San Diego, as well as Jose Jimenez and Antonio Cortez from Mexico. Hernandez Lopez faces charges related to conspiracy to use a cross-border tunnel and import controlled substances, while all four defendants are accused of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
US Attorney Adam Gordon remarked, “For these defendants, it wasn’t a light at the end of the tunnel. It was lights and sirens.” The investigation, carried out by a Homeland Security Task Force, monitored activities at the Buy 4 Less warehouse from December 2025 to May 2026. Agents noticed suspicious behavior, such as limited customer traffic and unusual movements of large suitcases by Hernandez and others from the premises.
Authorities revealed that searches led to the discovery of 851 packages containing a substance testing positive for cocaine. The seizures included 1,029.6 kilograms of cocaine, with significant amounts found in trucks and a van. Kevin Murphy, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations San Diego, stated, “This investigation and seizure represent a significant blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.”
Inside the store, investigators found the tunnel’s exit concealed beneath a storage room’s floor. The underground passage, accessible via a sophisticated hydraulic lift, extended over 1,000 feet from the store to the international border before continuing into Mexico. U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Justin De La Torre emphasized the determination of border protection personnel in thwarting criminal organizations attempting to exploit the border.
Officials noted that 99 subterranean passages have been discovered in Southern California since 1993, with 28 classified as advanced tunnels. Cross-border tunnels have become a favored method for Mexican drug trafficking organizations to transport narcotics into the US while evading border security infrastructure and ports of entry. These tunnels often feature advanced engineering, including lighting, ventilation, and rail systems for drug transportation.
