CALEXICO, Calif. -- Immigration agents have discovered a drug-smuggling tunnel that originated beneath the floor of a vacant supermarket in Calexico, Calif.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement says the incomplete pipeline-style tunnel was discovered Thursday after a hazardous materials team responded to a report of a possible gas leak at the former Vons store.
Workers spotted a piece of drilling equipment parked inside and alerted homeland security agents.
Investigators found a 4-inch diameter tunnel that extended approximately 100 yards from the vacant supermarket. It did not yet extend into Mexico.
ICE says the use of pipeline-style tunnels is one of the newest approaches being used by drug smuggling organizations. The narrow passages of the tunnel are lined with PVC pipe and the drugs are smuggled through.
So far, there have been no arrests.
