Drug Tunnel Discovered Under US-Mexico Border
VOA News: U.S. authorities say a sophisticated cross-border drug tunnel has been discovered under the U.S.-Mexico border, and more than 20 tons of marijuana have been seized, in the second major drug bust of its kind this month.
Immigration and customs enforcement officials say the nearly 1-kilometer-long tunnel was uncovered Thursday. The 27-meter deep passageway contains advanced rail, electrical and ventilation systems and has two entrances on the U.S. side, about 244 meters apart in the Otay Mesa industrial complex in southern San Diego.
Officials say the newly discovered tunnel is linked to a private home in Tijuana, Mexico, across the border from San Diego.
Five others are in custody in Mexico.
On November 4, authorities seized about 30 tons of marijuana while finding another tunnel that ended in the same industrial area of San Diego.
Mexico's military forces are engaged in a struggle against the country's violent drug cartels. Nearly 30,000 people have been killed in Mexico's drug war since President Felipe Calderon took office in late 2006 and began cracking down on the cartels.