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Authorities in the United States have announced that they have opened a large tunnel for drug smuggling, passing under the border with Mexico, BTA reports.

The tunnel begins in Tijuana and exits into an industrial area of ​​San Diego, with ventilation systems, rails, electricity and reinforced walls.

It was discovered near the Otai Mesa border crossing in an area where more than 10 other tunnels have been found in the past two decades.

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Authorities in the United States said it was unknown how long the tunnel had been used and how much drugs had been transferred through it.

799 kilograms of cocaine, 75 kilograms of methamphetamine and 1.6 kilograms of heroin were seized in connection with the investigation.

Six people, aged 31 to 55, have been charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

The tunnel under one of the most guarded areas on the US-Mexico border shows that building walls can't solve all the problems.

Although considered effective against small, roughly built tunnels, the walls have no effect on deeper tunnels, the AP notes.

The tunnel, opened on Friday, was 532 meters long, 1.2 meters in diameter and as deep as a six-story building.

The type of drugs seized could mean a change from the multi-ton marijuana shipments that were often found in similar operations before California legalized marijuana use in 2019, the AP notes.

drug trafficking

secret tunnel

United States and Mexico