Sophisticated Drug Tunnels Discovered in Arizona

October 11, 2012

For years secret tunnels along the United States border with Mexico have been built to smuggle drugs, but recently the tunnels have become more sophisticated. In July 2012, four drug smuggling tunnels were discovered within a week of one another: two in California and two in Arizona, with one of the Arizona tunnels being the most advanced tunnel yet discovered. Authorities believe the growing sophistication of the passages may be explained in part by support from Mexican drug cartels.

In the middle of July, Arizona state police discovered a 240-yard tunnel running from San Luis, Arizona, to San Luis Rio Colorado in Mexico. The entrance of the tunnel on the Arizona side was located in a vacant strip mall storefront and was found beneath a water tank in a storage room. The opening on the Mexican side of the tunnel exited into an ice-plant business. The passage was more than just a long, dug-out hole. The tunnel featured lighting and ventilation systems and authorities estimate its cost to be around $1.5 million.

State police received word of the tunnel after they pulled over a driver who had 39 pounds of methamphetamine in his vehicle and told police about the storefront. Despite its extensiveness, authorities believe the tunnel had been in operation for only a short time because large drums containing soil remained on the property and because the floor of the tunnel did not show wear.

Although authorities are not sure whether the tunnel was operated by the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel, they suspect the cartel's involvement because the group controls the territory that the tunnel runs through in Mexico. A special agent with the Phoenix division of the Drug Enforcement Administration said engineering experience was needed to create the tunnel and "nobody is going to construct this tunnel without significant cartel leadership knowing what's going on."

Because of increasing detection above ground, tunnels have become a more popular way to smuggle large amounts of marijuana, heroin and other illegal drugs into the U.S. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, more than 150 tunnels have been found along the border since 1990 and more than 70 tunnels have been found since October 2008. That is more than the number of tunnels discovered in the preceding six years.

The majority of the tunnels are constructed along the border in Arizona and California and many tie into storm drains or drainage canals. Authorities believe it takes six months to a year to build a tunnel. People suspected of being involved in the creation of drug tunnels along the Arizona border may face federal drug charges.

If you are facing drug charges, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney to protect your legal rights.

Article provided by Orent Law Offices, PLC
Visit us at http://www.orentlaw.com/