US seizes $45 million cocaine haul from Mexico-California drug tunnel
Synopsis
A professionally engineered 1,933-foot tunnel beneath a fake California retail store — complete with hydraulics, ventilation, and a rail system — was quietly monitored for six months before federal agents moved in, seizing over a tonne of cocaine worth $45 million and charging four people linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. It is the first operational tunnel found in the Southern California district since 2022.
Key Takeaways
Federal investigators uncovered a 1,933-foot underground tunnel linking Tijuana, Mexico to a front store near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in California.
Agents seized approximately 1,029.6 kilograms of cocaine — worth an estimated $45 million — across three vehicles.
The tunnel was equipped with reinforced walls, electricity, ventilation, and a rail network , accessed via a hydraulic lift inside the store.
Four people — including two from San Diego and two from Mexico — have been charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
Authorities linked the operation to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel ; the tunnel was monitored from December 2025 to May 2026 .
This is the 100th subterranean passage discovered in Southern California since 1993 , and the first operational one found in the district since 2022 .
Federal investigators in the United States have dismantled a sophisticated underground smuggling tunnel running from Tijuana, Mexico, into Southern California, seizing more than one tonne of cocaine with an estimated street value of $45 million. Authorities say the operation dealt a significant blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, with four individuals now facing federal charges.
How the Tunnel Was Built and Operated
The subterranean passage stretched approximately 1,933 feet in length and ran nearly 55 feet below ground, connecting a property in Tijuana to a front business called 'Buy 4 Less' near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in California. The tunnel was equipped with reinforced walls, an electrical system, ventilation infrastructure, and an internal rail network — hallmarks of a professionally engineered smuggling corridor.
Access to the tunnel from inside the store was concealed beneath the floor of a storage room, reachable via a hydraulic lift. From there, the passage extended more than 1,000 feet before crossing the international boundary and continuing into Mexican territory.
The Seizure: Cocaine Across Three Vehicles
Agents recovered 851 packages of a substance that field-tested positive for cocaine across three separate vehicles. The breakdown: 286.2 kilograms from one truck, 469.4 kilograms from a second truck, and 274 kilograms from a van — a combined haul of approximately 1,029.6 kilograms, or more than 2,269 pounds.
The Investigation and Those Charged
A Homeland Security Task Force monitored activity at the Buy 4 Less warehouse from December 2025 through May 2026. Investigators noted the business attracted minimal customer traffic and showed patterns inconsistent with legitimate retail operations, including individuals frequently removing large suitcases from the premises.
The four defendants charged are Gregorio Epifanio Hernandez Lopez of San Diego, Brandon Escalante Sandoval of Mexico, Jose Jimenez of San Diego, and Antonio Cortez of Mexico. All four face charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Hernandez Lopez additionally faces charges of conspiracy to use a cross-border tunnel and conspiracy to import controlled substances.
What Authorities Said
'For these defendants, it wasn't a light at the end of the tunnel. It was lights and sirens,' said US Attorney Adam Gordon.
Kevin Murphy, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations San Diego, described the find as 'a significant blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel,' adding that the dismantlement 'underscores the commitment and collaboration of HSI and our HSTF partners.' US Border Patrol San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Justin De La Torre noted that 'criminal organisations continue to look for ways to exploit our border, but they underestimate the determination of the men and women protecting it.'
A Pattern of Cross-Border Tunnels
This discovery is not an isolated incident. According to officials, 99 subterranean passages have been uncovered in Southern California since 1993, of which 28 are classified as sophisticated tunnels. The last operational tunnel found in the district before this one was discovered in 2022. Cross-border tunnels have emerged as one of the most effective tools used by Mexican drug trafficking organisations to bypass ports of entry and border security infrastructure, with many featuring advanced engineering comparable to the passage found at Otay Mesa.
With four defendants in custody and the tunnel dismantled, investigators are expected to continue probing the cartel's broader logistics network on both sides of the border.
Point of View
933-foot passage with hydraulics and rail is not improvised, it is engineered. The six-month surveillance window before the bust raises a pointed question: how many similar tunnels are operational right now that haven't yet been found? With 99 tunnels discovered in Southern California since 1993 and only 28 classified as sophisticated, the definition of 'sophisticated' may itself need updating as cartels invest in deeper, longer, and better-equipped corridors. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel has proven resilient to leadership disruptions; dismantling one tunnel is a tactical win, not a strategic one.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the Mexico-California drug tunnel discovered?
The tunnel ran from Tijuana, Mexico, to a front business called 'Buy 4 Less' near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in Southern California. It stretched approximately 1,933 feet and was buried roughly 55 feet underground.
How much cocaine was seized in the tunnel bust?
Agents seized approximately 1,029.6 kilograms — more than one tonne — of cocaine across three vehicles, with an estimated street value of $45 million. The drugs were found in 851 packages that field-tested positive for cocaine.
Who has been charged in connection with the tunnel?
Four people have been charged: Gregorio Epifanio Hernandez Lopez and Jose Jimenez of San Diego, and Brandon Escalante Sandoval and Antonio Cortez of Mexico. All four face conspiracy to distribute controlled substances charges; Hernandez Lopez faces additional charges related to the tunnel itself.
Which cartel is linked to the tunnel?
Authorities have linked the tunnel to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico's most powerful drug trafficking organisations. Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Murphy described the bust as 'a significant blow' to the cartel.
How common are cross-border drug tunnels in Southern California?
According to officials, 99 subterranean passages have been discovered in Southern California since 1993, of which 28 are classified as sophisticated tunnels. The last operational tunnel found in the district before this case was uncovered in 2022.
