New Drug Tunnel Found at Border

Mexican federal agents discovered a drug tunnel near the beach between Tijuana and San Diego, Mexico’s federal attorney general’s office said Saturday.

The tunnel, which appeared to run under the metal fence dividing the two countries, was discovered Friday, attorney general spokesman Abraham Sarabia said. It was originally built near Tijuana’s beach to get rid of extra water from a nearby and now unused water treatment plant.

The 80-foot-long tunnel contained recent handprints and cart tracks, indicating it was likely used to sneak drugs or possibly illegal immigrants to the United States, Sarabia said. However, most border tunnels are used only to move drugs.

Sarabia said the tunnel was near a residential area along Mexico’s Pacific coast and was more than 3 feet wide and 30 inches tall.

He said U.S. officials had been notified of the tunnel, which will be sealed.

It was the fifth tunnel discovered in recent months along the U.S.-Mexico border.

In March, American drug agents discovered a tunnel the length of four football fields with electricity and ventilation pipes. The agents said smugglers probably used it for at least three years to transport marijuana and cocaine. The agents also found 500 pounds of marijuana at the U.S. end of the tunnel, which was beneath the border in eastern San Diego County.