{"id":1862,"date":"2026-06-01T23:01:47","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T06:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/losangelesmovinginsider.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/01\/four-charged-more-than-1-ton-of-cocaine-seized-in-connection-with-cross-border-tunnel-in-otay-mesa\/"},"modified":"2026-06-01T23:01:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T06:01:47","slug":"four-charged-more-than-1-ton-of-cocaine-seized-in-connection-with-cross-border-tunnel-in-otay-mesa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/losangelesmovinginsider.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/01\/four-charged-more-than-1-ton-of-cocaine-seized-in-connection-with-cross-border-tunnel-in-otay-mesa\/","title":{"rendered":"Four charged, more than 1 ton of cocaine seized in connection with cross-border tunnel in Otay Mesa"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Four people were charged following a month-long federal drug investigation that led to the discovery of a cross-border tunnel stretching from a Tijuana home to a supposed discount store in Otay Mesa, officials said Monday.<\/p>\n

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The 1,933-foot-long passageway, which federal officials said was \u201camong the most sophisticated\u201d ever found along the San Diego border, was equipped with reinforced walls, a rail system, electricity and a ventilation system. It ran 55 feet underground, and the tunnel itself was 4.5 feet tall.<\/p>\n

Investigators said the tunnel was being used to smuggle cocaine. Federal authorities seized 851 packages of the drug, weighing over 1 ton and estimated to be worth $45 million, as part of the operation, according to court records.<\/p>\n

U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said that it was believed the tunnel was the work of the Jalisco Nueva Generaci\u00f3n cartel, also known by the acronym CJNG.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor those defendants, they thought they saw a light at the end of the tunnel,\u201d Gordon said at a news conference Monday. \u201cIn fact, what they saw were our lights and sirens.\u201d<\/p>\n

The four defendants, whose ages range from 18 to 32, made their initial appearances in San Diego federal court on Monday. A detention hearing to discuss possible bail has been set for Wednesday.<\/p>\n

The defendants are facing a charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and one of them is facing additional charges for conspiracy to use a cross-border tunnel and conspiracy to import controlled substances. Two of the defendants are from San Diego, and two from Mexico, officials said.<\/p>\n