More than 200 pounds of drugs discovered in 82-foot long tunnel on US-Mexico border

It was the third drug tunnel found in the area this month.

On Dec. 17, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and task force officers discovered a drug tunnel on the US-Mexico border, according to a press release. They uncovered “200 lbs. of methamphetamine, almost two pounds of white heroin, close to three pounds of cocaine, [and] over six and a half pounds of fentanyl.” Officers also say they arrested two people.

The 82-foot long, eight feet deep tunnel runs from a house in Nogales, Arizona to a raw sewage pipeline, which spans from Rio Rico Arizona to Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, according to the release.

Investigators got wind that people were smuggling drugs through the pipeline earlier this year and got a search warrant, which led them to find what was at the end of the tunnel.

Officers arrested Mexican citizens Jovany Robledo-Delgado and Jesus Martinez Selgado. They were charged with “possession and conspiracy to distribute hard narcotics” and appeared in federal court on Dec. 18.

”The reinforced passageway features a sophisticated ventilation system equipped with tubing reinforced by several 2 x 4’s and beams allowing for crawlspace,” the press release says. “Special agents estimate the tunnel has been in existence for a few months due to the advanced construction and material used to excavate.”

Another tunnel was found near Nogales on Dec. 5 during an inspection of the drainage system, according to Fox10 Phoenix. Then, on Dec. 10, border patrol discovered a second tunnel 50 yards from where the first one was found.

This story was originally published December 20, 2019 at 11:30 AM with the headline "More than 200 pounds of drugs discovered in 82-foot long tunnel on US-Mexico border."