Official statements from law enforcement agencies in the U.S. or Mexico

300-Meter Smuggling Tunnel Between Ciudad Juárez and El Paso Sealed

Jan 19, 2025, 05:15 AM

Authorities in the United States and Mexico have discovered and are sealing a clandestine tunnel connecting Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and El Paso, Texas. The tunnel, hidden within a storm sewer system and linked to the Boone Street storm-drain system, spans approximately 300 meters on the Mexican side and is equipped with lighting, ventilation, and structural reinforcements. It is believed to have been used for smuggling drugs, migrants, and other contraband. Officials estimate the tunnel, measuring 1.8 meters in height and 1.2 meters in width, took one to two years to construct and may have been operational for a similar period. The passage was reportedly used by transnational criminal organizations, including the La Empresa cartel, to smuggle over 800 people weekly, with migrants paying up to $6,000 per crossing. Discovered on January 10, 2025, following a joint operation by U.S. and Mexican security agencies and an anonymous tip, the tunnel's existence was partly uncovered through social media posts by traffickers. Investigations are ongoing, with the Mexican Attorney General's Office probing potential complicity by local authorities. Both nations have intensified security measures along the border, and sealing operations using concrete have commenced on both sides to prevent further use.