Mexico to seal TikTok-flagged smuggling tunnel to US

The underground passage, believed to have been used for human trafficking, was posted on social media

Mexico will seal a smuggling tunnel that connects the border town of Ciudad Juarez to El Paso, Texas, an army official said on Saturday. The 1,000-foot (300-meter) underground passage, believed to have been used for human trafficking and illegal trade, was exposed last week after videos promoting its existence started circulating on TikTok.

The tunnel was discovered in a joint operation by US and Mexican security agencies, according to Jose Lemus Cisneros, commander of Ciudad Juarez’s military garrison, which is currently guarding it.

The entrance to the passage was found near Mexico’s Rio Bravo, across from Ciudad Juarez’s Mexicanidad plaza, while its exit was located on US territory near drainage gates in El Paso.

The tunnel was hidden inside a natural sewer system, which made its initial detection difficult. The structure was supported by wooden beams and equipped with electricity and a ventilation system. According to Cisneros, authorities believe the tunnel’s construction must have taken as long as one or two years. The Mexican Attorney General’s Office has launched an investigation into the individuals responsible for the smuggling route.

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According to Cisneros, clues about the tunnel’s existence and location were widely discussed by human traffickers in videos on TikTok, which drew attention from authorities and eventually made the discovery possible.

“Of course, the authorities are taking into account everything that is on social media. It was part of the clues to carry out the search,” he stated during a media tour to the tunnel.

Cisneros said authorities on both sides of the border have stepped up operations in the region to search for other tunnels.

“Coordination with the North American authorities is ongoing. The information they have, the coordination has been fundamental in finding these types of tunnels,” he stated.

US Border Patrol spokesperson Claudio Herrera said last week that authorities have already started sealing off the tunnel from the American side, covering it with concrete.

Smuggling tunnels are a persistent issue on the US-Mexico border. In 2022, border authorities discovered a similar tunnel in California stretching 1,774 feet, complete with reinforced walls and a rail system.

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US President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly emphasized his commitment to stricter border controls and tackling illegal immigration during his election campaign last year. He is expected to launch reforms on US border legislation shortly after his inauguration this week, including boosting border patrol funding and expanding surveillance measures.