Sophisticated drug tunnel found near Nogales

Brady McCombs, Arizona Daily Star | Posted: Monday, May 9, 2011 4:05 pm

A 250-foot long tunnel that had electricity, lighting, water pumps and ventilation was discovered in Nogales by border officials.

The underground passageway was three-feet wide by five feet tall and originated from an abandoned building in Nogales, Sonora, shows a Border Patrol news release. It went 15 feet below ground.

Border Patrol agents first discovered evidence of a possible tunnel a week ago, triggering a coordinated effort between Mexican and U.S. federal officials.

The tunnel is one of the most sophisticated of the 58 tunnels found since fiscal year 2007 in the Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector.

Most of them are short, cramped and rudimentary.

Not this drug tunnel.

“There is definitely a lot of work that went into this one,â€