Border Patrol Agents from the Tucson Sector Border Patrol uncovered a cross border tunnel near the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona.
On November 12, 2015, Agents assigned to the Nogales Border Patrol station were contacted by Mexican Authorities regarding a tunnel entrance located in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. The agents in cooperation with Mexican Authorities, investigated the tunnel and determined it traveled approximately 122 feet, was just over 2 feet wide, and 3 feet tall. The tunnel was found to be incomplete and appeared to be intended for a water basin just north of the international boundary fence. The tunnel penetrated the international boundary by less than one foot.
Transnational criminal organizations have recruited a wide range of techniques in an attempt to smuggle both humans and narcotics into the United States. Since the illicit first tunnel was discovered in Douglas, Arizona in 1990, illicit tunnels have led to the seizure of more than 17,500 lbs. of narcotics in Tucson Sector. Nogales, Arizona has seen the most illicit tunnel activity, accounting for 108 of the 114 cross border tunnels, mostly discovered within city limits.