http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercuryn ... 674209.htm

Posted on Fri, Jan. 20, 2006

Illegal tunnel found under U.S.-Mexico border


Associated Press

SAN DIEGO - Authorities on Friday found a partially-completed illegal tunnel under the U.S.-Mexican border.

Acting on a tip received by U.S. authorities, Mexican federal police located the tunnel entrance on Mexican soil three-quarters of a mile west of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego.

Lauren Mack, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the tunnel was under construction. It ended 100 feet north of the border, buried under four and half feet of U.S. soil.

Mack said the tunnel was wired for electricity and a wooden shaft was found at the entrance.

It appeared that the tunnel was headed for a storm drain system, Mack said. Such a system could have been used to easily smuggle drugs or people from Mexico into the United States.

No arrests have been made, but the tunnel builders were at work as recently as Thursday. Tools were found at the scene.