U.S. authorities have arrested four men and seized more than a ton of cocaine following the discovery of a sophisticated tunnel linking San Diego and Tijuana. The 2,000-foot passage was found during an investigation into a warehouse in Otay Mesa.
Federal officials announced the arrests of Gregorio Epifanio Hernandez Lopez, Jose Jimenez, Antonio Cortez and Brandon Escalante Sandoval. The men face charges including distribution of a controlled substance after authorities linked them to trafficking more than $45 million worth of cocaine. The tunnel featured reinforced walls, ventilation, electricity and a rail system. It stretched from a storage room at the Buy 4 Less warehouse near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry to a point more than 800 feet inside Mexico. Surveillance of the site began in December 2025. Agents moved in on May 29 after observing suspicious activity involving vans and deep freezers. More than 2,269 pounds of cocaine were recovered from three vehicles during the operation. U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said the arrests ended a lengthy investigation. Acting special agent Kevin Murphy described the seizure as a significant blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
