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.
Authorities say they found the tunnel after investigators became suspicious about a tractor trailer parked near a warehouse in the industrial complex. Authorities followed the trailer as it left the site, later stopping the vehicle and seizing more than 12 tons of marijuana inside. The driver, along with two other people, were arrested in the United States.
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.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
