A federal grand jury in the United States has indicted Mexican engineer Luis Manuel Hernández Victoria, accusing him of helping build a drug-smuggling tunnel connecting Tijuana with a retail business in San Diego, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Hernández, also known as “El Ingeniero,” is accused of designing the underground passage and providing material support for the project, which authorities attribute to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Kevin Murphy, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego, said the indictment reflects federal efforts to dismantle transnational criminal organizations.
Charges Against the Mexican Engineer
The indictment accuses Hernández of participating in three alleged offenses:
- Conspiracy to construct or finance a cross-border tunnel.
- Conspiracy to use a cross-border tunnel to import controlled substances.
- Conspiracy to import controlled substances.
The CJNG has been designated a terrorist organization by the Trump administration.
Hernández was arrested on October 15, 2026, in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Mexican authorities also seized weapons and narcotics during the operation.
If convicted, he could face life in prison and a fine exceeding $10 million. He is the seventh person charged in connection with the tunnel, and authorities say the investigation remains ongoing.
The Tunnel Connected Tijuana to a Business Near Otay Mesa
The underground passage was discovered on May 29, 2026, inside a retail business at 2498 Roll Drive, Suite E, San Diego, California, near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. The business was identified as Buy 4 Less.
According to the indictment, the tunnel extended from Tijuana into the San Diego property. It measured approximately 1,933 feet long, reached a depth of 55 feet and stood about 4.5 feet high. It was build with a reinforced structure equipped with rail systems, ventilation and electrical systems.
During the investigation, federal law enforcement agencies also seized more than one ton of cocaine, with an estimated value exceeding $45 million.
The case remains under investigation as authorities continue pursuing those allegedly involved in the tunnel’s construction and operation.
