Overview
- U.S. investigators seized more than one tonne of cocaine and unsealed a tunnel exit beneath a San Diego storefront after surveillance that culminated in enforcement actions beginning May 29, 2026.
- Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California charged four people with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and related tunnel offenses; the accused are Gregorio Epifanio Hernández López, Brandon Escalante Sandoval, José Jiménez and Antonio Cortez.
- Mexican authorities executed a separate federal raid in Nueva Tijuana that uncovered the tunnel entry, lighting, ventilation, an electronic sliding mechanism and seized ammunition plus suspected methamphetamine and marijuana.
- Public statements differ on the tunnel’s dimensions — U.S. officials described roughly 589 meters and about 17 meters deep while Mexican authorities reported about 265 meters and 6.3 meters — and investigators are working to map the full physical link and construction chain.
- The case highlights the continued use of engineered subterranean routes by organized crime, underscores the need for coordinated law enforcement across the border and could reshape prosecutions and border‑security priorities as joint enquiries continue.