Mexico uncovers 870-foot tunnel with electronic rail near US border

Mexican authorities have uncovered a sophisticated underground tunnel near the U.S.-Mexico border equipped with lighting, ventilation and an electronic transportation system that they say could connect Tijuana to a street in San Diego.

The Mexican Attorney General’s Office, known as FGR, announced the discovery on Saturday following a search warrant executed at a property in the Nueva Tijuana neighborhood of Tijuana, Baja California.

The tunnel stretches about 265 meters, or about 870 feet, and reaches a depth of roughly 6.3 meters, or 21 feet, underground, officials said.

According to researchers, the tunnel contained operational infrastructure, including lighting and ventilation systems, as well as an electronic shifting mechanism designed to move items in both directions between Mexico and the United States.

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The tunnel was discovered as a result of intelligence work carried out by agents in the FGR’s Criminal Investigation Department in coordination with the Mexican Security Cabinet.

The search warrant was executed as part of an investigation into alleged violations of Mexico’s firearms and explosives laws, as well as drug-related crimes, authorities said.

Authorities said they believe the property may have been used as a storage, logistics and smuggling center for firearms, explosives and illegal drugs.

Mexican federal agents pass through an underground tunnel discovered in Tijuana, near the US-Mexico border. Authorities said the crossing was used to support criminal smuggling operations. (FGR)

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Photos released by FGR appear to show agents navigating the underground passage, access points to the tunnel, and evidence obtained during the operation.

Investigators said they seized ammunition, suspected methamphetamine, suspected marijuana, cellphones and various documents at the property.

Footage released by Mexican authorities also shows the ventilation infrastructure inside the tunnel, underlining what authorities describe as a complex operation.

A staircase and access shaft are seen inside a property where Mexican authorities have uncovered a sophisticated tunnel in Tijuana. (FGR)

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FGR said its investigation showed the tunnel likely connected to a street in San Diego, but officials have not publicly identified its location or confirmed whether the U.S. side of the tunnel has been found.

The discovery of the tunnel comes after U.S. authorities announced charges against four men accused of smuggling more than a ton of cocaine through a complex cross-border tunnel running between Tijuana and San Diego.

The tunnel was approximately 1,933 feet long, reached a depth of about 55 feet and was equipped with reinforced walls, electrical, ventilation systems and rail infrastructure, according to federal prosecutors in San Diego.

Suspect narcotics seized during the tunnel investigation are on display by Mexican authorities. Investigators said ammunition, mobile phones and documents were also seized during the operation. (FGR)

Federal investigators said the tunnel connected Tijuana to the storefront of a store known as “Buy 4 Less” in Otay Mesa, where agents discovered a secret exit point hidden beneath a warehouse floor.

Authorities seized approximately 1,029 kilograms, or more than 2,269 pounds, of suspected cocaine during the investigation; That amount was worth about $45 million, prosecutors estimated.

Homeland Security Investigations said the seizure deals a significant blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal organizations.

The investigation resulted in charges against four suspects accused of using the tunnel to transport narcotics to the United States.

Federal officials said the tunnel was discovered after months of surveillance that began in late 2025 and culminated in coordinated enforcement actions on May 29.

Authorities said the discovery was a significant blow to criminal organizations that rely on underground smuggling routes to move narcotics and other contraband across borders.

“This wasn’t the light at the end of the tunnel for these defendants. It was lights and sirens,” said Adam Gordon, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California.

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The evidence and property were turned over to federal prosecutors in Baja California, who will continue the investigation.