A 55-foot-deep secret tunnel used for drug trafficking was discovered in San Diego. The tunnel was used to smuggle cocaine with $45 million. Homeland Security Task Force spent six months on the investigation. The network relied on this 2,000-foot-long tunnel.

The tunnel was located inside the Buy 4 Less store in San Diego County. The tunnel in Otay Mesa was fully built out. It had electricity, reinforced walls, a rail system, and ventilation. The network of drug trafficking was spread across Mexico and California. The authorities believe the tunnel was used for more than drug smuggling. They say it also served as a center of criminal activity. It is suspected to have been used for transporting weapons and explosive materials.

The illegal activity is connected to the Jalisco New Generation cartel. The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed this link. Four men were charged and arrested for being involved in narcotics trafficking. They were identified as Antonio Cortez (18), Brandon Escalante Sandoval (26), Gregorio Epifanio Hernandez Lopez (29), and Jose Jimenez (32). 

Hernandez Lopez, who is from San Diego, is charged with Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances and Conspiracy to Use a Cross-Border Tunnel. Meanwhile, all four are charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances.

The investigation went on from December 2025 to May 2026 as the authorities noticed suspicious activity. According to the prosecutors, 7-8 employees were seen carrying suitcases out of the store. This happened while fewer customers were present. 

On Friday, the defendants were loading heavy items into a van outside the store. Sandoval from Mexico was doing a surveillance check while riding a bicycle. He was later seen using a concealed key to let others move deep freezers.

During a traffic stop, a police dog alerted the deputies to the presence of narcotics. Police seized 851 packages from three vehicles. The packages had a combined weight of more than a ton. It was a successful operation for the department. U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon noted in a press briefing, “For these defendants, it wasn’t a light at the end of the tunnel. It was lights and sirens.” 

Kevin Murphy, acting Special Agent in Charge for HSI San Diego, appreciated the Homeland Security Investigations and Homeland Security Task Force. He said, “This investigation and seizure represent a significant blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The discovery and dismantlement of this sophisticated cross-border tunnel, along with the seizure of more than a ton of cocaine, underscore the commitment and collaboration.” The defendants were scheduled to be arraigned on the afternoon of June 1. They may get life in prison if given the maximum penalty for the charges.