A sophisticated cross-border drug tunnel stretching more than 2,000 feet between San Diego and Tijuana has been dismantled by federal investigators, resulting in the arrest of four individuals accused of trafficking more than $45 million in cocaine through the elaborate underground passage.
Background
The U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Tunnel Task Force began surveilling a purported Buy 4 Less discount store near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego in December 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Investigators quickly noticed activity inconsistent with a normal retail operation, observing minimal customer foot traffic despite apparent commercial signage.
During surveillance, federal officials noted employees allegedly transporting what appeared to be empty suitcases across the border into Tijuana by car and sometimes by hand. The suspicious handling of these containers drew investigators' attention as they tracked patterns of movement between the store and Mexico.
The breakthrough came on May 29 when agents observed large, heavy items being loaded into a white van parked outside the store. A man on a bicycle was allegedly seen retrieving a key from a hidden spot near the gas cap, then coordinating a transfer operation involving multiple vehicles and deep freezers filled with packages.
The Investigation
San Diego County sheriff's deputies moved in to bust the operation while agents simultaneously watched another truck being loaded at the Buy 4 Less location. Both vehicles were pulled over shortly after leaving the parking lot. In total, authorities seized more than 2,269 pounds of cocaine from three vehicles.
Executed on a warrant to search the store, investigators discovered the tunnel exit concealed beneath the floor of a storage room. The passage extended as much as 55 feet underground, running approximately 1,000 feet to the U.S.-Mexico border before continuing another 800-plus feet into Mexico.
The tunnel was equipped with electricity, reinforced walls, ventilation systems and a rail system for moving cargo—features that authorities say indicate significant investment and professional engineering expertise.
"For these defendants, it wasn't a light at the end of the tunnel. It was lights and sirens," U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said in a statement.
Key Takeaways
- Four suspects arrested: Gregorio Epifanio Hernandez Lopez, 29; Jose Jimenez, 32; Antonio Cortez, 18; and Brandon Escalante Sandoval, 26
- More than 2,269 pounds of cocaine seized, estimated street value exceeding $45 million
- Tunnel measured over 2,000 feet total with depth of up to 55 feet below surface
- Sophisticated infrastructure included electricity, ventilation, reinforced walls and rail system
- Investigation linked to Jalisco New Generation Cartel according to HSI officials
What's Next
All four defendants face charges of distribution of a controlled substance. Hernandez Lopez also faces additional counts of constructing, financing or using unauthorized tunnels and importation of a controlled substance. If convicted on all charges, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. No court dates have been set as of publication.