1776Reporting
A covert smuggling tunnel linking Mexico to Arizona has come to light, casting a harsh spotlight on the violent underbelly of cross-border crime. Unearthed by a collaboration between U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Mexico’s Sonora State Police, the discovery showcases the sophisticated tactics cartels use to evade authorities.
This incomplete tunnel, situated in San Luis Rio Colorado near the border wall, was identified with the aid of advanced drone technology. Mexican officials have labeled it a “narco tunnel,” believed to be intended for trafficking drugs and possibly people into the United States.
A Growing Pattern of Underground Routes
This marks the third such tunnel discovered near Yuma, Arizona, in 2024. While the specific cartel behind its construction remains uncertain, the DEA’s 2024 Drug Threat Assessment attributes many such operations to the notorious Sinaloa cartel.
Interestingly, not all tunnels are purpose-built. Many exploit existing sewage and water systems in border cities, although the Sinaloa cartel is also known for constructing elaborate passageways beneath residential properties on the Mexican side.
“The Sinaloa Cartel exerts near-total control over the border region south of Arizona, giving the cartel easy access to the San Luis Rio Colorado and Nogales [ports of entry],” the DEA noted.
The Deadly Grip of Cartels on the Drug Trade
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram underscored the devastating impact of cartels:
“At the heart of the synthetic drug crisis are the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels and their associates, who DEA is tracking world-wide. The suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and money launderers all play a role in the web of deliberate and calculated treachery orchestrated by these cartels. DEA will continue to use all available resources to target these networks and save American lives.”
The crisis has claimed over 107,000 American lives in 2022 alone, with fentanyl accounting for 70% of those deaths, according to the CDC. In 2023, the DEA seized nearly 30,000 pounds of fentanyl powder and 79 million counterfeit pills—a staggering increase compared to 2021.
Emerging Threats Beyond the Border
The cartel’s activities are part of a broader wave of violence, coinciding with the expansion of the Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan gang described as “MS-13 on steroids.”
By the close of 2024, TdA had extended its reach into 18 U.S. states, including remote regions like Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming, as well as major urban centers in Texas, New York, and Chicago. Experts predict their influence could grow to over 25 states by early 2025.
John Fabbricatore, a former immigration and customs enforcement director, warned:
“We’re going to start hearing stories about them getting arrested everywhere. They’re in 17 states now. I wouldn’t be surprised if by February, that’s higher than 25.”
A Sinister Recruitment Strategy
Originating in a Venezuelan prison, TdA’s ranks have swelled as members infiltrate the U.S. among the one million Venezuelan migrants arriving under the Biden administration. Their presence is often marked by tattoos depicting a train, crown, clock, or AK-47.
Shockingly, the gang has recruited children as young as 11 to form a group dubbed the “Little Devils of 42nd Street.” These minors, armed with knives and guns, carry out brazen robberies in New York City. In 2024 alone, the city recorded over 800 gang-related crimes, double the number from 2023.
The dark alliance of cartels and violent gangs like TdA paints a grim picture of cross-border crime, where innovative smuggling operations and ruthless expansion tactics continue to endanger lives on both sides of the border.
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