Drug tunnel found in Southern California

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SAN DIEGO, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The discovery of a drug tunnel linking San Diego and Tijuana warehouses led to the seizure of about 17 tons of marijuana, U.S. and Mexican authorities said.

The tunnel, almost 400 yards long and equipped with lights and a ventilation system, on the U.S. side was in a light industrial area in Otay Mesa near the border, the Los Angeles Times reported. The opening in Tijuana was found in an unfinished industrial building near the city's airport.

Several other large tunnels have been found in the area in recent years as Mexican organized crime groups attempt to evade border checkpoints with underground passageways capable of handling huge drug shipments.

"The drug cartels mistakenly believe they can elude detection by taking their contraband underground, but again and again, we've been able to find these tunnels and shut them down," said Derek Benner of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which heads the San Diego-based multiagency tunnel task force.

Authorities said the Sinaloa drug cartel in Tijuana has a long history of constructing drug tunnels into San Diego.