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Huge Drug Tunnels Found Near San Diego

U.S. border patrol agents have found two drug tunnel stretching more than 600 yards, crossing from California to Mexico.
Posted at 1:53 PM, Apr 05, 2014

U.S. border patrol agents have found two drug tunnels stretching more than 600 yards, crossing from California to Mexico. KGTV reports immigration agents have arrested 73-year-old Glennys Rodriguez on suspicion of overseeing one of those tunnels.

KNSD notes officials found the tunnels inside two warehouses in the San Diego area.

Officials broke through a concrete floor using a sledgehammer and found a complex pulley system beneath a 70-foot shaft earlier this week. Rodriguez is accused of overseeing that tunnel.

NBC reports one tunnel was more than 600 yards long and located inside a toy warehouse. The other tunnel was just blocks away — stretching more than 700 yards.

Soon after officials found the tunnels, police arrested Rodriguez for her alleged involvement. One of Rodriguez's friends told KFMB she can't believe what happened.

"I am very surprised. I'm shocked. No way. ... She's a very likable person. She's the vice president of our association. She generous, and everybody likes her."

U-T San Diego adds Rodriguez made her first federal court appearance Thursday. So far, police say they haven't seized any drugs from the tunnels. A immigration agent said that could be because smugglers are being more careful about how much they send.

No other arrests have been reported, but KGTV says others are expected. Officials have found seven drug tunnels in the San Diego area in the last four years.