Thread: Two accused of operating drug tunnel plead guilty

Two accused of operating drug tunnel plead guilty

By Jose Luis Jiménez, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 6:27 p.m.

SAN DIEGO — A pair of men accused of constructing and operating a drug tunnel underneath the U.S.-Mexico border have pleaded guilty to drug charges in federal court in San Diego, officials announced Tuesday.

In separate court hearings, they admitted to building a 400-foot tunnel about 20 feet underground that connected homes in Mexicali and Calexico, officials said. They believe the men were trying to import 2,000 pounds of marijuana when the tunnel was discovered on Sept. 15, 2006.

Saul Ontiveros-Zamora, from Mexico, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to drug trafficking and conspiracy to launder drug proceeds. He has been in custody since Sept. 19, 2008.

Eduardo Araza-Leon, of Calexico, pleaded guilty Tuesday to renting drug-related premises and conspiracy to launder drug proceeds.

Araza has been in custody since June 8, 2006, on an unrelated matter. During that time, he discussed the final construction stages of the narcotics tunnel with Ontiveros. Federal authorities launched an investigation and found the tunnel, which took nine months to construct, officials said.

Ontiveros is scheduled to be sentenced on May 24 and faces decades in prison. Araza is scheduled to be sentenced May 10 and also faces decades in prison.

Two other men have been convicted of drug charges for helping Ontiveros and Araza traffic drugs, officials said.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010 ... ad-guilty/

Nice of them to plead guilty and save us the cost of a trial.