Man-made tunnel with lighting, ventilation found beneath US-Mexico border in El Paso

Border Patrol agents uncovered a man-made tunnel connecting Ciudad Juárez to El Paso early Thursday, equipped with lighting, ventilation, and wood bracing, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said.

Agents inspected the area on Jan. 9, uncovering the tunnel around 1:15 a.m. The discovery came after removing a metal plate covering a 36-by-36-inch entry hole. The tunnel, approximately 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide, was outfitted with lighting, a ventilation system and wood bracing.

“We are proud of the agents who discovered this smuggling infrastructure used by transnational criminal organizations,” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony Scott Good. “With our partners, we are committed to investigating these illicit activities and bringing all perpetrators to justice.”

Authorities, including the FBI, El Paso CBP, the El Paso Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Mexican government, and the U.S. Consulate General Ciudad Juárez, are collaborating on the investigation.

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“The United States Border Patrol’s discovery of this tunnel … underscores the vital importance of coordination and collaboration among our law enforcement agencies,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge John Morales.

The public is encouraged to report suspicious activity to U.S. Border Patrol at 1-800-635-2509 or WhatsApp at 915-314-8194.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Man-made tunnel discovered beneath US-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas

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