An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Archived Content
    In an effort to keep CBP.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated.
  1. Home
  2. Newsroom
  3. Local Media Release
  4. Cross-Border Tunnel Discovered in Nogales

Cross-Border Tunnel Discovered in Nogales

Release Date
Mon, 10/19/2020

TUCSON, Ariz. – U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered a cross-border tunnel running beneath the streets of Nogales, Arizona, Sunday.

Agents located a cross-border tunnel Sunday, west of the DeConcini Crossing in Nogales
Agents located a cross-border
tunnel Sunday, west of the
DeConcini Crossing in Nogales

Tucson Sector agents confirmed the existence of the tunnel around 7:45 p.m., following its initial discovery by video surveillance. Agents located the tunnel’s 2-feet-by-2-feet exit approximately one-half mile west of the DeConcini Port of Entry and about 3 feet north of the border. Mexico’s Guardia Nacional located its entrance in the floor of the existing Grand Avenue Drainage System in Mexico.

The rudimentary, hand-dug tunnel extended for approximately 10 feet and had no shoring, ventilation or lighting.

This is the 127th tunnel discovered in the Tucson Sector since 1990 and the first discovered this fiscal year.

Binational cooperation between the U.S. Border Patrol and the Government of Mexico plays a vital role in border security. Efforts, such as tunnel sweeps, aim to disrupt transnational criminal organizations and prevent the smuggling of narcotics and humans across the border.

For more details regarding this news release, contact the Tucson Sector Public Affairs Office at tca-pao@cbp.dhs.gov or by phone at 520-748-3210. Tucson Sector is also LiveU capable. Contact us to schedule an interview.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021