A clandestine tunnel, suspected to be a conduit for cartel smuggling activities, was recently unearthed near the U.S.-Mexico border in San Luis Ro Colorado, just south of Yuma, Arizona.
The unfinished tunnel was detected during a collaborative investigation by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Sonora State Police, who utilized drone technology in their search.
According to The Post Millennial, Mexican authorities have identified the tunnel as a "narco tunnel," presumably designed for the illicit trafficking of drugs and humans. This discovery marks the third of its kind in the vicinity of Yuma this year, as reported by AZ Family.
The specific cartel orchestrating this operation remains unidentified. However, the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) 2024 Drug Threat Assessment suggests that the Sinaloa Cartel frequently utilizes such tunnels in this region. Some of these underground passages are reported to be highly advanced, equipped with electrical and ventilation systems.
"The Sinaloa Cartel exerts near-total control over the border region south of Arizona, giving the cartel easy access to the San Luis Rio Colorado and Nogales [ports of entry]," the DEA stated.
DEA Administrator, Anne Milgram, elaborated on the issue, stating, "At the heart of the synthetic drug crisis are the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels and their associates, who DEA is tracking world-wide. The suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and money launderers all play a role in the web of deliberate and calculated treachery orchestrated by these cartels."
Milgram further pledged that the "DEA will continue to use all available resources to target these networks and save American lives."
This discovery comes at a time when the U.S. grapples with significant challenges posed by drug smuggling and illegal border crossings, including those by members of Central and South American gangs.
A recent report highlighted that gang members, particularly from the Tren de Aragua gang, are attempting to infiltrate the U.S. before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, in anticipation of more stringent border security measures under his administration.
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