Cartels’ Hidden Tunnel Smuggling Drugs and Humans Across Border Busted by Federal Agents [WATCH]

In another alarming example of cartel ingenuity, federal agents uncovered a sophisticated “narco tunnel” connecting El Paso, Texas, to Juarez, Mexico. The underground passage, equipped with electricity and a ventilation system, allowed smugglers to transport drugs and people into the United States.

As reported by The New York Post, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in El Paso revealed that the man-made tunnel, measuring about 4 feet wide and 6 feet high, had been carved into El Paso’s Boone Street storm-drain system.

USA: A man-made smuggling tunnel was discovered on the US-Mexico border near El Paso, Texas. CBP, in coordination with Homeland Security Investigations and other agencies, found the tunnel on January 9, 2025.

This cross-border tunnel originated in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico,… pic.twitter.com/V4qm9E3Ch9

— Crime Intel (@WorldCrimeIntel) January 12, 2025

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Just blocks from the border, the entry point was concealed by a metal plate, which agents removed to expose the 3-foot-by-3-foot opening.

A video released by federal authorities showcased the tunnel’s crude construction, supported only by wooden beams. Despite its simplicity, the tunnel’s functionality highlights the increasing sophistication of cartel operations.

News: A tunnel under our southern border has been found connecting El Paso and Juarez!

It sits about 4 feet across and 6 feet high while being held up by wood beams. It is even equipped with electricity, a ventilation system and appears to have been constructed in the past year.… pic.twitter.com/JMqWsPkeQH

— Tom Homan – Border Czar Commentary and Updates (@TomHoman_) January 12, 2025

Jason Stevens, Special Agent in Charge at HSI El Paso, said in a statement, “Transnational criminal organizations mistakenly think they can avoid detection by moving people and contraband underground. This recent discovery is a significant blow to their operations as it highlights our capability to disrupt their sophisticated smuggling networks.”

🚨SECRET SMUGGLING TUNNEL FOUND IN EL PASO TEXAS STORM DRAIN. THE TUNNEL CONNECTS TO CIUDAD JUAREZ MEXICO.

REALLY WONDER HOW MANY OF OUR MISSING PEOPLE HAVE GONE THROUGH HERE… pic.twitter.com/U1nUrE4zm0

— Chaos Alerts (@ChaosAlertsOnX) January 12, 2025

Border Patrol El Paso Sector Chief Anthony Good commended the agents who uncovered the tunnel during routine inspections near the border. Good criticized smugglers for creating such a hazardous pathway, endangering lives while bypassing legal immigration channels.

“With our partners, we are committed to investigating these illicit activities and bringing all the perpetrators to justice — those who endanger lives in these hazardous environments and circumvent the legal pathways into the United States,” Good stated.

This recent discovery underscores the persistent problem of “narco tunnels” used by cartels to smuggle drugs and humans across the border.

Just last year, agents discovered a similar tunnel at the Arizona-Mexico border. That tunnel, still under construction in San Luis Río Colorado, was believed to be part of another sophisticated cartel operation.

The most elaborate tunnel to date was unearthed in 2020 between Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego, California. Spanning three-quarters of a mile, it featured a rail system, an elevator, and reinforced walls.

Take a look inside the longest drug-smuggling tunnel ever discovered at the U.S.-Mexico border pic.twitter.com/m1vsiQ2FrV

— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) January 31, 2020

As federal and local agencies ramp up efforts to secure the southern border, discoveries like these highlight the challenges posed by transnational criminal organizations. While the cartels’ methods grow more sophisticated, law enforcement is determined to stay one step ahead.

This latest tunnel discovery is a reminder of the ongoing crisis at the border and the need for stronger, more effective measures to protect America’s sovereignty and security.