Man Used Secret Tunnel To Traffic Drugs To San Diego, Feds Say

SAN DIEGO, CA — A Mexican national was charged Friday with trafficking drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border via a subterranean tunnel stretching from Mexico to an Otay Mesa warehouse.

Rogelio Flores Guzman, 31, is accused of helping construct the cross- border tunnel and using it to transport fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana. It's the first time that five different types of drugs were found inside such a tunnel, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Guzman was arrested Thursday at Los Angeles International Airport, where prosecutors say he was preparing to board a flight to Guadalajara, Mexico.

On March 20, nearly $30 million worth of drugs in about 575 separate packages were discovered and seized in the tunnel, which extends more than 2,000 feet from a Tijuana warehouse into a warehouse located at 2587 Otay Center Drive, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Officials estimate the tunnel had "been in existence for several months due to the advanced construction observed in several portions of the passageway, which included reinforced walls, ventilation, lighting and an underground rail system."

Flores was arraigned Friday afternoon on a charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

"Cross-border tunnels always spark fascination, but in reality they are a very dangerous means for major drug dealers to move large quantities of narcotics with impunity until we intervene," U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer said. "We have seized this tunnel, confiscated almost $30 million in drugs and now we've charged one of the alleged crew members. They can dig tunnels, but we will find them, fill them in, and put the leaders in prison."

—City News Service