Massive Drug Tunnel from Tijuana Discovered Under Fake SoCal 'Buy For Less' Store

A 1,900-foot smuggling tunnel stretching from Tijuana, Mexico, to a fake storefront in Otay Mesa, California, was shut down by law enforcement following a dramatic $45 million drug bust, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The tunnel, discovered on June 1, 2026, connected a Tijuana drug ring to a building posing as a 'Buy 4 Less' retail store, where tons of cocaine were loaded into vans for distribution across the United States. This marks the first major drug tunnel discovery since 2022.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the discovery on June 2, stating, 'Yesterday, following a months-long investigation by the Homeland Security Task Force, authorities discovered a sophisticated cross-border tunnel connecting Tijuana, Mexico, to a building posing as a retail store in Otay Mesa, California, near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. This case reflects our unwavering commitment to dismantling cartels, stopping the flow of dangerous drugs into our communities, and keeping American families safe.'

Four individuals have been arrested and charged: Gregorio Epifanio Hernandez Lopez, 29, of San Diego; Jose Jimenez, 32, of San Diego; Antonio Cortez, 18, of Mexico; and Brandon Escalante Sandoval, 26, of Mexico. They were seen driving vehicles involved in the operation before being stopped by agents.

Starting in December 2025, investigators monitored groups of 'supposed employees' around the store, noting minimal customer foot traffic inconsistent with a retail setting. On Friday, May 29, 2026, agents stopped a van and two trucks that had departed from or received cargo from the 'Buy 4 Less' store.

Inside the three vehicles, they found a combined 2,269.87 pounds (over a ton) of cocaine in more than 850 packages.

A search of the storefront revealed the tunnel's exit point hidden beneath the floor of a storage room. The tunnel is approximately 55 feet deep and extends 1,064 feet from the store to the U.S.-Mexico border, with an estimated additional 800 feet to its entry point in Tijuana.

It is accessed via a sophisticated hydraulic lift and equipped with electricity and ventilation.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, this is one of 99 tunnels discovered in the Southern District of California since 1993, and the first since 2022.

U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Justin De La Torre commented, 'Criminal organizations continue to look for ways to exploit our border, but they underestimate the determination of the men and women protecting it.

This tunnel's discovery is a testament to our strong partnerships and the unwavering commitment of law enforcement on both sides of the border.'

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