Part 3/5:
Tunnels have long been employed by cartels, particularly the Sinaloa Cartel, to circumvent border controls. According to the DEA’s 2024 Drug Threat Assessment, the continued use of tunnels across the southwestern border remains a significant threat. These hidden passages allow traffickers to move not just drugs, but also individuals into the United States undetected.
Notably, most of these tunnels originate from sewer and water systems, strategically built under urban areas to facilitate smuggling operations. However, the current tunnel found near Yuma stands out, as investigations revealed it to be a standalone, independent structure, differing from many existing channels that integrate with public utilities.