Stunning footage has revealed a vast tunnel running beneath the US-Mexico border, uncovered in the wake of a multi-million dollar drug seizure.
Authorities say the operation led to narcotics being confiscated with an estimated value of around $45 million, before investigators located the hidden underground route.
Officials described the passage as unusually advanced, featuring reinforced walls, ventilation and even a rail system.
Those additions appear to have been essential given the tunnel’s sheer length: roughly 2,000 feet underground, stretching for more than a third of a mile.
The route reportedly begins in Tijuana, Mexico, crosses under the border and emerges in San Diego, California — behind what looked like an ordinary storefront called “Buy 4 Less”.
Video taken inside shows a staircase leading down to the main corridor.
Inside, rails run along the ground, while piping and electric lights are spaced throughout, illuminating a long, straight stretch ahead.
Investigators believe the tunnel was used to move drugs across the border, with the rail line helping transport large loads efficiently.
Homeland Security teams, working alongside Mexican authorities, began an investigation that ultimately led them to the suspected entry point at the Otay Mesa “discount store”, with surveillance said to have started in December 2025.
Photos from inside the business show the access point was hidden beneath a large stone floor tile in one of the rooms.
The opening was reportedly aligned with the surrounding decorative pattern, allowing it to be covered simply by placing the tile back into position without disrupting the design.
After the tunnel was found, four people were arrested and accused of conspiring to distribute cocaine.
They are due to be arraigned on June 2 2026 before US Magistrate Judge Valerie E. Torres, and could face up to life in prison if convicted.
Authorities also reported seizing more than a ton of the substance during a raid at the store, putting its street value at about $45 million.
Justin De La Torre, US Border Patrol San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent, issued a statement following the discovery.
“Criminal organisations continue to look for ways to exploit our border, but they underestimate the determination of the men and women protecting it,” he said.
“This tunnel’s discovery is a testament to our strong partnerships and the unwavering commitment of law enforcement on both sides of the border.”
Officials have uncovered similar routes in the past. A 2016 Department of Homeland Security report stated that from 1990 to 2015, authorities found 183 cross-border tunnels.