The US authorities reported this June 2 on the discovery of a cross-border tunnel that connected a small trade in southern California with the city of Tijuana and that it was used for drug trafficking.
According to information from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), in addition to the discovery of the tunnel, four were charged people on charges such as conspiracy to distribute more than a ton of cocaine.
US authorities reported that the defendants were identified as Gregorio Epifanio Hernández López, Brandon Escalante Sandoval, José Jiménez and Antonio Cortez.
Regarding the tunnel, it had approximately 589 meters long, 16.7 meters deep and 1.3 meters high.
The space also had reinforced walls, a rail system, ventilation and electrical supply.
The tunnel was found after a Department of Transportation Tunnel Investigations Task Force National Security monitored the location where the clandestine passage began between December 2025 and May of this year.
The business was located near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, in California, and is known as Buy 4 Less.
The authorities realized that, in December 2025, a group of “employees” in and around the business, despite the fact that there was a very low flow of customers.
The “employees” carried out suspicious activities, such as moving a large number of suitcases from inside the trade into several vehicles or transport them on foot to the border with Mexico.