Stretching for more than 1.860 miles (3000km), the long frontier between the United States and Mexico has a reputation as one of the world’s most porous borders. Here, the governments of both nations have long been engaged in a bloody battle to stem the cross-border flow of illegal drugs, and in recent years the trade has literally been driven underground.
While the narcotics trade has clearly damaged communities on both sides of the border, it has effectively transformed some of Mexico’s cities into war zones. Worth billions of dollars each year, the business is estimated to have accounted for some 40,000 Mexican lives between 2006 and 2011. After the government launched a crackdown on mid- 2000s, the drugs cartels arguably became even more efficient, better armed, and organized with military precision.
Their ruthless pragmatism is reflected in the drug tunnels that ease the passage of Narcotics from one country to the other. some run for up to half a mile ( 800m) and are equipped with sophisticated lighting and ventilation systems, wooden props to support the walls, and even tracks for electronic carts.
The tunnel floors are routinely lined with wooden boards and in some cases cemented over, while drainage systems counter the risks of groundwater. Access may be via a rope ladder, although some of the more sophisticated examples boast wooden staircases and even hydraulic elevators. Such impressive construction suggests cooperation from engineers and building professionals.
Entrances are centered around Tijuana the Mexican side and San Diego on the US side. They are generally found in private properties, with Tijuana in particular amply endowed with disused warehouses.
California clay soil seems particularly conducive to tunnel digging, although some tunnels have been routed into Arizona, where they went through an interesting network of underground drainage canals. that each time takes on average 6 months to a year to construct, using a mixture of handheld tools and pneumatic drills. according to official figures, more than 150 illicit tunnels have been discovered since 1990, leading to recovery of hundreds of tons of marijuana alone. They are often found around the time of the marijuana harvest in October, suggesting a seasonal construction timetable.
