Feds uncover tunnel from Mexico to San Diego allegedly used to smuggle $45M in cocaine

Authorities have uncovered a sophisticated cross-border drug tunnel running about 1,933 feet from Tijuana, Mexico, to a purported retail store in San Diego, California, and have arrested four men accused of using it to smuggle more than a ton of cocaine valued at about $45 million, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California announced in a June 1 press release.

According to the release, the tunnel ran from Tijuana to a warehouse near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, which operated as a “Buy 4 Less” retail store. The tunnel was about 55 feet deep and, at some points, up to 4.5 feet tall, and was equipped with electricity, reinforced walls, ventilation, and a rail system. 

Federal prosecutors charged 29-year-old Gregorio Epifanio Hernandez Lopez, 32-year-old Jose Jimenez of San Diego, 18-year-old Antonio Cortez, and 26-year-old Brandon Escalante Sandoval of Mexico with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Hernandez Lopez also faces charges of conspiracy to use a cross-border tunnel and conspiracy to import controlled substances. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. 

“This investigation and seizure represent a significant blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel,” Kevin Murphy, HSI San Diego acting special agent in charge, said in the U.S. Attorney’s Office release. “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 of Homeland Security Investigations and our Homeland Security Task Force partners.” 

According to the release, investigators with the Homeland Security Investigations Tunnel Task Force began surveilling the “Buy 4 Less” warehouse in December 2025 after noticing suspicious activity, including minimal customer traffic and people carrying empty suitcases out of the store and into vehicles or walking them across the border into Mexico. 

On May 29, San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies stopped and searched multiple suspicious vehicles and seized more than 2,200 pounds of cocaine. Officials then executed search warrants at “Buy 4 Less” and another San Diego location and found the tunnel entrance concealed beneath the floor of a storage room inside the store and accessible through a hydraulic lift system.

“Criminal organizations continue to look for ways to exploit our border, but they underestimate the determination of the men and women protecting it,” U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Justin De La Torre said in the release. “This tunnel’s discovery is a testament to our strong partnerships and the unwavering commitment of law enforcement on both sides of the border.”

Federal officials said in the release that authorities have discovered 99 subterranean passages in the Southern District of California since 1993, including 28 considered “sophisticated.” The last operational tunnel discovered in the district was in 2022.