Possible tunnel on border brings Yuma-area arrest

By James Gilbert
Yuma Sun
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.10.2008

YUMA — A Mexican national has been arrested in San Luis in connection with a possible cross-border tunnel that was discovered late last week.

According to agent Karla Davalos, a spokeswoman for the Border Patrol's Yuma Sector, the agency received information regarding the possibility of a tunnel at a home on the east side of San Luis and went to investigate. San Luis is south of Yuma on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Agents found heavy-construction equipment and other material inside the home and arrested one person.

Davalos said the investigation into the possible tunnel was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Vinnie Picard, a Phoenix spokesman for ICE, confirmed that the agency is investigating what appears to be a cross-border tunnel, but could not release all the information that was known.

Picard did say it was not known whether the tunnel, which originated in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, was complete. He added that more information could be available today.

While he could not provide the exact location of the possible tunnel, Picard said the individual in custody was arrested on suspicion of participating or assisting in a criminal syndicate.

According to La Prensa, a newspaper in San Luis Rio Colorado, the entrance to the tunnel on the Mexican side of the border was in an abandoned apartment building along Avenue Capitan Carlos G Calles between 13th and 14th streets. The tunnel entrance is about 100 yards from where another drug tunnel was found in 2007.

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