Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Authorities seized 12 tons of marijuana and arrested 22 people after discovering one of the longest cross-border tunnels between the U.S. and Mexico, officials said Thursday.
The passage connecting warehouses in San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico, was about 2,400 feet long and 30 feet deep. It was lit, ventilated and equipped with a rail system — hallmarks of the most sophisticated tunnels found along the border.
Near-simultaneous police stings on Wednesday resulted in six arrests in San Diego and 16 in Mexico. Authorities recovered two tons of marijuana in the U.S. and 10 tons in Mexico.
U.S. authorities said smugglers tried to move the first load of drugs through the tunnel on Wednesday but that nothing got through undetected.
The sting came after an undercover agent for U.S. Homeland Security Investigations agreed to provide the drug smugglers with drivers and use of a warehouse in exchange for a $10,000 payment for each truckload of drugs moved, according to a probable cause statement.
The discovery demonstrates the enduring appeal of tunnels to smugglers, despite the significant time and money required to build one. Dozens of tunnels have been found along the U.S.-Mexico border in recent years, some equipped with hydraulic lifts and electric rail cars.
The San Diego-Tijuana region is popular because its clay-like soil is relatively easy to dig with shovels and pneumatic tools, and both sides of the border have warehouses that provide cover for trucks and heavy equipment.
It was unclear which drug trafficking organization orchestrated the latest passage but the region is largely controlled by Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, whose leader Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman escaped from a maximum-security prison in Mexico in July through an elaborate tunnel.
Mexican federal police said in a news release that those arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking told authorities that they had ties to a criminal group that operates in the state of Jalisco — an apparent reference to the Jalisco New Generation cartel, which controls that part of western Mexico.
The Mexican suspects were caught off-guard when authorities arrived at the Tijuana warehouse with a search warrant, police said. No shots were fired.
The drugs found were wrapped in 873 packages covered with plastic and tape.
On the U.S. side, the tunnel entry point in a warehouse near the Otay Mesa border crossing had no stairs or ladder. U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy said smugglers were believed to be using pulleys.
David Shaw, head of Homeland Security Investigations in San Diego, said traffic to and from the San Diego warehouse was unusually heavy before the sting. The agency began investigating in May, he said.
"It almost looked like they filled it with junk to look like they were busy," Shaw said.
Isaias Enriquez, 53, and Isidro Silva, 27, both of Tijuana, were charged with conspiracy in U.S. federal court. Four others were to be charged in state court.
Enriquez agreed in recorded conversations to pay the undercover agent $10,000 a truckload to provide a second warehouse and drivers, according to the probable cause statement. Drugs were to go there from the warehouse on the border in San Diego.
Two agents unloaded boxes containing 249 packages of marijuana at the second warehouse on Wednesday, and one met later with Enriquez and Silva at a San Diego restaurant to arrange another shipment, the document said.
I have grown opium many times. I have also smuggled opium from Vegas to Canada.....what do you want to know?Has anybody ingested any poppies?
I have grown opium many times. I have also smuggled opium from Vegas to Canada.....what do you want to know?
thats hilarious. I could easily see how that would be used as a "fix it all" remedy hahaha.Not opium, just the poppy plant itself. It seems to be very popular around here. I didnt realize poppies are growing everywhere. My Punjabi friends eat the fuck out of just the flowers once they are dried out. Or they make tea. I just had some of the nastiest tea i have ever had. Feeling a bit sedated. I ate some of the black crusty good stuff. I cant feel my mouth lol. This is what they give their kids when they get sick. Any kind of sick lol. Hurt your foot? Drink some tea. Flu like symptoms? Drink the tea.
RJJH did you milk the flowers while they were still growing?
It's going to be even better because my father is so far 25 min late...... Can't get mad at him because of all the shit I pulled growing up though.that makes the victory joint after shooting that much better
what are you guys shooting today?rifles? handguns? are you at a range or out in the boonies?It's going to be even better because my father is so far 25 min late...... Can't get mad at him because of all the shit I pulled growing up though.
We are at an indoor range. I brought my k frame 38 special and my tactical Remington 870 and he brought his Gen 4 Glock 20 in 10mm. He gets so frustrated, he's started shooting within the past year and has gotten pretty decent, but I'll just pick up his gun and pop off a mag and it's all mainly in a tight 1 inch group..... Lol he gets so madwhat are you guys shooting today?rifles? handguns? are you at a range or out in the boonies?
We are at an indoor range. I brought my k frame 38 special and my tactical Remington 870 and he brought his Gen 4 Glock 20 in 10mm. He gets so frustrated, he's started shooting within the past year and has gotten pretty decent, but I'll just pick up his gun and pop off a mag and it's all mainly in a tight 1 inch group..... Lol he gets so mad
No not yet, but it shall soon, right now it's pistol grip, telescoping stock, shell holder, smaller fore grip, fore grip rail system, and 18.5 in barrelDoes your Remy have a"breachers" choke and extendended magazine and a lil rail on top?
No not yet, but it shall soon, right now it's pistol grip, telescoping stock, shell holder, smaller fore grip, fore grip rail system, and 18.5 in barrel
I used to like taking a couple whacks of a bowl and going for runs..... Now I like sitting out back and making my neighborhood smell like wine black and milds (because I'm fucking classy) and weed.About the only thing I dont like to do after smoking is lifting weights. I still do, I just seem to have less strength when I do.
Yea, same type of thing for me just different brandI see. I bought one about 2 years ago. I put a blackhawk recoil reducing stock. Looks like an AR 15 style kinda. Love that shotty.
About the only thing I dont like to do after smoking is lifting weights. I still do, I just seem to have less strength when I do.
Oh thats different, I dont mind being high for my morning cardio at all.I used to like taking a couple whacks of a bowl and going for runs..... Now I like sitting out back and making my neighborhood smell like wine black and milds (because I'm fucking classy) and weed.