Feds dismantle one of longest underground tunnels ever found along California border

 SAN DIEGO — Federal officials Wednesday announced the results of an investigation that led to the discovery of what is believed to be one of California’s longest cross-border tunnels and the seizure of a record quantity of cocaine thought to have been smuggled through that underground passage.

The tunnel, estimated to be more than 800 yards in length, stretches from a house in Tijuana, Mexico, to a fenced commercial lot in the Otay Mesa area, about 500 yards north of the international border. The tunnel’s exit on the U.S. side is a 3-foot hole that at one point was covered by an industrial-sized dumpster. The passageway is equipped with rail and ventilation systems, lights, and a sophisticated elevator that leads from the tunnel into a closet inside the Tijuana residence.

Six people were arrested in San Diego Friday and charged by federal complaint with various drug trafficking and tunnel-related charges, including conspiracy to import and distribute cocaine and conspiracy to use a border tunnel. The defendants include Martiniano Garcia-Sedano; Cruz Armando Parra Corrales; Alejandro Bravo; Juan Carlos Chavez Fabian; Alejandro Gomez-Baez; and Osmel Martinez. They were arraigned in federal court and remain in custody pending detention hearings.

“On the surface, few would ever suspect that traffickers were moving multi-ton quantities of cocaine and marijuana worth tens of millions of dollars in such an unassuming way, through this rabbit hole in the ground, in full view of the world around it,” said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy. “However, we can thank the hyper-vigilant agents who work this area for seeing what many of us would have missed. They don't judge a book by its cover. Whether a grandiose super tunnel or a humble rabbit hole, they home in and are prepared to take whatever action is necessary to secure our border.”

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