Photo: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Federal agents say they've found "the most sophisticated tunnel in US history."
“This appears to be the most sophisticated tunnel in U.S. history, and certainly the most sophisticated I’ve seen in my career,” said Carl E. Landrum, acting chief patrol agent with the Border Patrol’s Yuma Sector.
More than 1,300-feet long - and equipped with ventilation, water lines, electricity, and a rail system - the extensively reinforced tunnel was discovered while investigating a sinkhole on the US-Mexico border near Yuma, Arizona last month.
“What makes this one unique is that the terrain in Yuma is very hard... the sand is very loose, and most of them end up caving," said Angel Ortiz, assistant special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations in Yuma. "So the fact that the material was very well built and it had ventilation, it had water, it had a rail system with walls, roof, floor, electrical, makes this one a very unique type of tunnel."
The New York Post reports the 3-by-4-foot tunnel stretched from San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico, but didn't have a surface opening in the US - suggesting that the tunnel wasn't yet complete.
“A specialized camera was deployed 25 feet underground to investigate the gap revealing the cross-border tunnel,” ICE said.
Read the full report on the New York Post.