New Drug Tunnel Connecting Arizona And Mexico Discovered In Nogales (VIDEO)

U.S. police uncovered yet another underground tunnel used to smuggle drugs between Arizona and Mexico. Authorities in the U.S. and Mexico raided the passageway from both sides of the border on Thursday, Nogales International reported.

Inside the 2-by-2-foot tunnel, Mexican police found and seized 550 pounds of marijuana. No arrests were made.

The raid was a result of the joint efforts of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) and U.S. Border Patrol's Tucson Sector.

"Through vigilance and close cooperation, we were able to shut down this passageway before it was used to bring significant amounts of narcotics into the United States," Kevin Kelly, assistant special agent in charge of HSI Nogales, said in a statement.

According to ICE, the tunnel, which connected Nogales, Ariz., to Nogales, Mexico, was completed as recently as this week. The tunnel lacked ventilation and electricity and was supported by wooden beams.

The entrance on Mexico's side was hidden five feet beneath the ground of a residential property, while the northern entrance was concealed by a covered embankment.

The 110-foot long passage is the newest of 22 cases of illicit passageways found in the Arizona region within the past three years, Reuters reports.

In November, two tunnels were found in Nogales six days apart. One of the passageways, which measured double the width and height of the newest tunnel, was said to be one of the most sophisticated tunnels found in Arizona.

Comments

[JubalTHarshaw]

05:10 AM on 07/14/2012

The Huff proudly announces the Grand Opening of the Eric Holder Memorial Tunnel; the latest addition to the Barack Hussein Memorial Highway.

[Isela D]

12:45 AM on 03/06/2012

"the most sophisticated tunnels found in Arizona?", then, Joe Arpio negated any involvement in the drug dealing accusations.

How could the tunnel gone undetected by America's toughest sheriff?

[RobietheCat]

04:07 PM on 03/06/2012

Maybe because his county is west of Phoenix, and is no where near Nogales, AZ?

Google maps is your friend.

[Kenz300]

01:03 PM on 03/04/2012

Nothing will change in Mexico until the people of Mexico stand up and demand change. For too long police and political corruption has been accepted by the Mexican people.

If the Mexican government policed their side of the border we would have less smugglers, illegal guns and drugs crossing the border. The Mexican government's economic policy has been to export their people rather than provide jobs, safety and services to its people.

Where are the next generation of leaders in Mexico that can break the corruption?

[Fran Jaime]

10:58 PM on 03/04/2012

Nothing will change in the US until the people of the US stand up and demand change. For too long police and political corruption has been accepted by the American people.

If the American government policed their side of the border we would have less smugglers, illegal guns going to Mexico and drugs crossing the border. Where are the next generation of leaders in US that can break the corruption?
Or do you really think the drugs and people get smuggled into the US without plenty of help on the US side?

[Kenz300]

11:06 AM on 03/05/2012

It is up to the Mexican people to end the police and political corruption in Mexico.

No one but the Mexican people can fix the problem.

[RobietheCat]

04:08 PM on 03/06/2012

Waiting for the Dream Act in the US.

[BrotherLes]

07:40 AM on 03/04/2012

The only people allowed to BRING drugs into the US are the Fed’s, i.e. troops now growing the opium in Afghanistan, drugs hidden in body-bags during the Vietnam War. And also shipping guns into Mexico to blame the second amendment. The Cabal don’t like others stealing their business!

[abusosPoliticos]

09:41 PM on 03/03/2012

Legalize Marijuana,that might help !!

[hamp70]

04:29 PM on 03/03/2012

Okay, now I am going to tell you what I believe should be done. I'm sure others have already said it. Legalize drugs and stop hiring illegals. The problems caused by doing that would be miniscule to the problems now.

[j0hnwi11iams]

02:49 PM on 03/03/2012

Turning the border into a giant sink hole.

[Just Bob]

02:40 PM on 03/03/2012

Poor illegal immigrants . . . just trying to make a living. why all this hatred, just because they are Mexicans? You are all racist!

[sajc05]

03:17 PM on 03/03/2012

there is no ha.tr.ed toward them. Just demands to the feds to start enforcing the law.

[chuck nathaniel]

06:55 PM on 03/03/2012

Actually, the racism is the policies which destabilize their economy in Mexico, and then encourage them to migrate illegally for low wages in the States.

[KEBLAAB]

02:00 PM on 03/03/2012

Wow. "Seized 550 pounds of Marijuana" ... well that certainly justifies the muItI-million dollar ANNUAL cost of enforcing drugs ... ;-)

[cgnick]

01:27 PM on 03/03/2012

Cannabis prohibition should be ended. If Americans were able to produce marijuana here we would all but put the Mexican cartels out of business. Then the Feds could focus on a the real problem of cocaine, herion and meth. Marijuana being in the same category as drugs that are truely dangerous is a crime in it's self.

[Justdontgetit]

01:36 PM on 03/03/2012

AlcoholDistributors will see that doesn't happen for awhile--cuts into many pockets.

[doglove]

01:39 PM on 03/03/2012

And the continuation of prohibition and the drug wars makes a lot of people tons of $$$$$

[RobietheCat]

04:09 PM on 03/06/2012

Agreed 100%.

[cornel]

01:11 PM on 03/03/2012

Those Mexican armadillos are constantly at work : )

[garystartswithg]

01:06 PM on 03/03/2012

Its going to be a leaner Chistmas at the homes of the local Nogales law enforment this year.

[Fran Jaime]

11:03 PM on 03/04/2012

Arizona or Sonora?

[garystartswithg]

09:55 AM on 03/05/2012

I would go with both, there is only one way in and one way out.

[tanto]

01:03 PM on 03/03/2012

I wonder how many OTM's were planning on using this tunnel also? (Other Than Mexicans, yes it is an official term).

Everyone is focusing on drug trade instead of human trade.

[cornel]

01:15 PM on 03/03/2012

Or terrorist trade ! I wonder how many pro Iranian are in this country thanks to these tunnels ? Still want to bomb Iran ?

[tanto]

01:42 PM on 03/03/2012

That is exactly who I was speaking of.

Good point. They have been infiltrating for the last decade and are the ones who now control the cartels. Unfortunately, they will attack us eventually regardless of our actions in the middle east.

True, they may attack sooner if we attack Iranian assets, but the end result is the same. We are the ultimate prize, and they will not go away quietly if we do not engage Iran. This is what political correctness and lack of border control has brought to us.

The border has to be sealed shut with troops to prevent any more from crossing, and to defend against hostilities launched from Mexican territory by the tens of thousands that infest Mexico.

[klincklanc]

01:58 PM on 03/03/2012

They better not have any extra folks in there...just keep bringing us our weed!

[mikennz]

12:41 PM on 03/03/2012

Apparently, we need ground penetrating radar too. Do NOT legalize drugs of any kind. Any drug supporter telling you it will be better if drugs are legalized is lying.

[snafu20]

12:59 PM on 03/03/2012

says who? you

[garystartswithg]

01:08 PM on 03/03/2012

with enough tin foil on your head you can invent ground penetrating radar to see them little mexican buggers running around down there.

[Gravenstein]

01:43 PM on 03/03/2012

It's simple economics. Proven by the repeal of phorhibition.

[breakingpoint]

12:32 PM on 03/03/2012

legalize and regulate pot

end this humility