US Customs and Border Protection

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Inside look at tunnels under U.S.-Mexico border where cartels smuggle drugs
NBC Newsยท 2025-08-14 03:30
Border Security & Drug Enforcement - US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is actively combating cartels by intercepting smuggling tunnels along the US-Mexico border [1][2] - Intercepting tunnels significantly impacts cartels, potentially costing them a year's worth of labor and drug trafficking profits [3] - CBP discovered a nearly 3,000 foot long tunnel, 50 feet underground, intended for illicit activities [6] Human Smuggling Concerns - Human smugglers are exploiting the underground tunnels, potentially advertising safe passage for profit [4][5] - Videos suggest migrants, including adults and children, are attempting to enter the US through tunnels, with some messages written in Chinese [4] - The authenticity of the videos showing human smuggling is unverified by NBC News and CBP [5] Tunnel Characteristics & Methods - Smugglers design tunnels with features like ventilation systems (bounce house blower) and metal rails for transporting large quantities of drugs [3] - Tunnels can be large enough to walk through [4] - Cartels aim for tunnels to emerge in warehouses within the US [6]