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Or sign-in if you have an account.This photo released on June 1, 2026, shows a U.S.-Mexico cross-border tunnel, stretching from Tijuana, Mexico to a purported retail store near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in California. Photo by U.S. Department of Justice/AFP via Getty ImagesA sophisticated tunnel that runs hundreds of metres under the U.S.-Mexico border and pops up in a California retail store was used to smuggle more than $45 million worth of cocaine, U.S. officials say.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. 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Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe subterranean passageway, which stretches from the Mexican city of Tijuana to an outlet in the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, is estimated to be 590 metres long, 16.8 metres deep and up to 1.4 metres in height.U.S. investigators say it has reinforced walls, rail and ventilation systems, an electricity supply, and was accessed using a hydraulic lift.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againVideo released by the U.S. Justice Department shows apparently well-made concrete steps leading into the tunnel, which appears to be hewn from rock and with a concrete floor.Homeland Security federal drug investigators spent months watching the comings and going of people around a “Buy 4 Less” retail store on the U.S. side of the border.When they pounced, they found more than 1,000 kilograms of cocaine that they believe had been transported through the tunnel and loaded onto trucks. This photo released on June 1, 2026, shows the entrance to an underground tunnel connecting Mexico and the United States discovered by the Criminal Investigation Agency in Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico. Photo by Mexico's Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection/AFP via Getty Images“Criminal organizations continue to look for ways to exploit our border, but they underestimate the determination of the men and women protecting it,” said Justin De La Torre, chief patrol agent for the Border Patrol’s San Diego sector.“This tunnel’s discovery is a testament to our strong partnerships and the unwavering commitment of law enforcement on both sides of the border.”Four people — two from San Diego and two from Mexico — have been charged in connection with the alleged importation of drugs.The Justice Department says 99 subterranean passages have been discovered in the Southern District of California since 1993.Of those, 28 were considered sophisticated. The last time an operational tunnel was discovered in the area was in 2022.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. 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