Federal authorities have charged Luis Manuel Hernandez Victoria, identified as "El Ingeniero" (The Engineer), with designing and constructing a sophisticated underground tunnel used for drug smuggling into San Diego. The tunnel, allegedly built for the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), featured reinforced walls, electricity, ventilation, and a rail system.
US Attorney Adam Gordon stated that Hernandez engineered his own downfall. The discovery of the passage on May 29, 2026, occurred beneath a retail store at 2498 Roll Drive, Suite E, near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. Federal agents seized over one ton of cocaine valued at an estimated $45 million during the operation.
The tunnel extended approximately 1,933 feet from Tijuana, Mexico, to San Diego, reaching depths of 55 feet below ground. The passage measured 4.5 feet tall.
Hernandez faces federal charges including providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiring to construct or finance a cross-border tunnel, conspiring to use the passage for importing controlled substances, and conspiracy to import controlled substances. The CJNG was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the US government on February 20, 2025.
Hernandez was reportedly arrested in Mexico's Jalisco state on October 15, with Mexican authorities seizing weapons and narcotics at the time of his apprehension. He is the seventh individual charged in connection with the tunnel, and the investigation is ongoing. The charges against Hernandez remain allegations unless proven in court.
In a separate incident, Mexican authorities also uncovered another suspected smuggling tunnel in Tijuana's Nueva Tijuana neighborhood. This tunnel measured approximately 869 feet long and was located about 21 feet underground. Officers seized ammunition, cellphones, bank cards, a digital video recorder, and methamphetamine from this secondary location.