Mexico holds suspected of building tunnels for drug trafficking with USA

O alleged responsible for the design and construction of tunnels used for drug trafficking to the United States was arrested in the municipality of Zapopan, in the state of Jalisco, in western Mexico.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Mexican Government Security Office reported the arrest of Luis Manuel “N”, known as “Engineer”, identified as a member of a criminal group.

Authorities point to him as responsible for the creation of cross-border tunnels, mainly from Tijuana, in Lower California, the statement was made.

The detainee, who according to the local press is a member of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was caught red-handed in the municipality of Zapopan and, according to security sources, operated under the direct orders of Juan Carlos Valencia González, the “03”, head of the CJNG.

The Security Office said that “it faces charges in San Diego, California, for conspiracy to commit drug trafficking” and that during detention weapons, drugs and a vehicle were seized.

After the arrest, the suspect was handed over to the Public Prosecutor of the Republic, based in Guadalajara, which will determine the legal situation of Luis Manuel “N”.

According to the Mexican authorities, since 2006, they have been found on the border between the U.S. state of California and Mexico at least 20 tunnels, mainly in the industrial zone of Otay, where it is claimed that the type of land facilitates the construction of these tunnels.

The largest “drug tunnel” discovered was in January 2020, between Tijuana (Mexico) and San Diego (USA), and it had lighting, air conditioning, high-voltage electric power supply, an elevator and a rail system through which a wagon, similar to those used in mining, circulated to transport the drug under the international line.