'CJNG Engineer' Who Designed 1,933-Foot U.S.-Mexico Border Tunnel Indicted by U.S. Federal Grand Jury on Charges of Supporting Terrorist Organization

SAN DIEGO, United States

A Mexican engineer accused of designing and constructing a U.S.–Mexico border tunnel for a Mexican cartel has been indicted by a U.S. federal grand jury. The tunnel was a sophisticated drug smuggling passage beneath the border connecting Tijuana, Mexico, to San Diego, United States. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, U.S. Department of Justice, announced on October 29 (local time) that a federal grand jury indicted Mexican engineer Luis Manuel Hernandez Victoria, 60, that day on charges of designing and constructing a cross-border subterranean drug tunnel for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación). The U.S. government designated CJNG as a foreign terrorist organization.

Hernandez, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, is also known by the aliases "El Ingeniero" (The Engineer), "El Inge," and "Nalgon."

4 Charges Including Material Support to Terrorist Organization… Up to Life in Prison

According to prosecutors, the indictment charges Hernandez with four counts: providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to construct or finance a cross-border tunnel, conspiracy to use a cross-border tunnel to import controlled substances, and conspiracy to import controlled substances.

According to prosecutors, the charge of conspiracy to construct or finance a cross-border tunnel (Title 18, U.S. Code, Sections 555(a) and (d)) carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine, while conspiracy to use a cross-border tunnel to import controlled substances (subsections (c) and (d) of the same section) carries up to life in prison and a $10 million fine. The charge of conspiracy to import controlled substances (Title 21, U.S. Code, Sections 952, 960, and 963) carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine, and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization (Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 2339B(a)(1)) carries up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

Adam Gordon, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, said, "Hernandez engineered his own downfall."

Kevin Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego, said, "Today’s indictment demonstrates the unrelenting commitment of HSI and our Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) partners to disrupt and dismantle the transnational criminal organizations threatening our national security." He added, "Through the Homeland Security Task Force and by leveraging all available resources, HSI will continue to hold accountable cartel leaders and the architects of cross-border smuggling tunnels like Hernandez."

On October 29, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California posted on its official X account, "Alleged Engineer of CJNG Cartel’s Cross-Border Tunnel Indicted for Providing Material Support to Foreign Terrorist Organization."

Tunnel Measuring Approximately 1,933 Feet Long and 55 Feet Deep, Equipped with Rails, Ventilation, and Electricity

According to the indictment, Hernandez was involved in the construction of a tunnel discovered on May 29, 2026, inside a retail business at 2498 Roll Drive, Suite E in San Diego, which was built for the benefit of CJNG. CJNG was designated as a foreign terrorist organization on February 20, 2025.

According to prosecutors, the subterranean passageway extended from Tijuana, Mexico, to a purported retail store named "Buy 4 Less" near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, and was estimated to be approximately 1,933 feet long, 55 feet deep, and 4.5 feet high. The tunnel was equipped with reinforced walls, a rail system, ventilation, and electricity.

At the time the tunnel was discovered, federal law enforcement authorities seized more than one ton of cocaine with an estimated value of over $45 million. Hernandez is the seventh individual indicted in connection with the tunnel, and the investigation remains ongoing.

On June 1, 2026, when announcing the discovery of the tunnel, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California posted a photo of the tunnel’s U.S. exit on its official X account, stating that the subterranean passageway stretching from Tijuana, Mexico, to the purported retail store near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry known as "Buy 4 Less" was estimated to be about 1,933 feet long.

Customer-Free Store and Empty Luggage… Uncovered After Six Months of Surveillance

According to an announcement released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on June 4, the HSI Tunnel Task Force had been conducting surveillance on "Buy 4 Less" since December 2025. This followed suspicious activity, including little customer traffic and individuals carrying empty luggage between the store and vehicles or crossing the border.

According to ICE, on May 29, 2026, agents observed a man loading heavy items into a van at "Buy 4 Less" and transporting them to a nearby auto repair shop. Agents also observed one of the suspects conducting counter-surveillance in the surrounding area. A truck subsequently arrived, and the suspects unloaded three large freezers from the van, loaded them into the truck bed, and filled them with packages.

Deputies from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department stopped the truck and, with the aid of a police K-9, detected traces of controlled substances. Deputies also stopped a second truck and the van associated with the operation, with both vehicles testing positive for controlled substances. Agents seized more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of cocaine from the vehicles.

Law enforcement authorities subsequently executed search warrants at "Buy 4 Less" and the repair shop. According to ICE, agents uncovered the tunnel concealed beneath the store floor, accessed via a hydraulic elevator. The tunnel extended approximately 1,064 feet from "Buy 4 Less" to the U.S.–Mexico border, and an additional approximately 800 feet from the border into Mexico.

ICE announced at the time that four individuals had been charged as a result of the investigation with conspiracy to distribute more than a ton of cocaine. According to ICE, Gregorio Epifanio Hernandez Lopez and Jose Jimenez of San Diego, along with Brandon Escalante Sandoval and Antonio Cortez of Mexico, were charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, with Hernandez Lopez facing additional charges of conspiracy to use a cross-border tunnel and conspiracy to import controlled substances.

Special Agent in Charge Murphy (then acting) said at the time, "This investigation and subsequent seizures are a major blow to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel," adding that "uncovering and shutting down a sophisticated cross-border tunnel and taking over a ton of cocaine off our streets shows the dedication and teamwork of HSI and our HSTF partners." U.S. Attorney Gordon said at the time, "For these defendants, at the end of this tunnel was not light, but flashing lights and sirens."

Joint Investigation by Seven Agencies… A Homeland Security Task Force Initiative

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Border Patrol, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the California Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Deshong and Jordan Arakawa. Prosecutors stated, "An indictment and criminal complaint are merely allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."

According to prosecutors, this case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established under Executive Order 14159, "Protecting the American People Against Invasion." The Homeland Security Task Force is a whole-of-government partnership aimed at dismantling criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and human trafficking enterprises operating within and outside the United States, with a particular focus on investigating and prosecuting crimes against children. The task force also utilizes every available tool to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal noncitizens from the United States. The San Diego Homeland Security Task Force includes agents and officers from the FBI, HSI, DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Marshals Service, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Coast Guard, CBP, and INTERPOL, with prosecutions led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.

According to prosecutors, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, created by Congress pursuant to the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, supports federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas designated as critical drug-trafficking regions in the United States. Administered by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the grant program currently includes 33 designated areas, with designated counties located across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C.

U.S. Department of State Designated CJNG as Foreign Terrorist Organization in February 2025

The U.S. Department of State designated CJNG as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Executive Order 13224 on February 20, 2025. The U.S. Department of State stated at the time that "CJNG is a transnational organization based in nearly every state in Mexico" and that "in addition to fentanyl trafficking, the group is involved in extortion, migrant smuggling, oil and mineral theft, and weapons trafficking." According to the U.S. Department of State, CJNG has networks throughout the Americas as well as Australia, China, and Southeast Asia; has attacked Mexican military and police forces with military-grade weaponry; has dropped explosives on Mexican law enforcement using drones; and has assassinated or attempted to assassinate Mexican officials.

The U.S. Department of State announced, "Terrorist designations expose and isolate entities and individuals, and deny them access to the U.S. financial system and the resources needed to carry out attacks." As a result of the designation, all property and interests in property of these targets that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

Construction of Cross-Border Tunnels Is a Federal Felony

Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 555(a) provides that anyone who knowingly constructs or finances the construction of a tunnel or subterranean passageway that crosses the international border between the United States and another country shall be fined and imprisoned for not more than 20 years. Subsection (c) of the same section provides that anyone who uses such a tunnel to unlawfully smuggle an alien, goods, controlled substances, weapons of mass destruction, or members of a terrorist organization shall be subject to a maximum term of imprisonment of twice the maximum term that would have otherwise applied. Subsection (d) provides that anyone who attempts or conspires to commit an offense under subsection (a) or (c) shall be subject to the same penalties as those prescribed for the offense.

ICE urged the public to report crimes or suspicious activity by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or by submitting an online tip form.

Sources (KST)

• U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California press release, "Alleged Engineer of CJNG Cartel’s Cross-Border Tunnel Indicted for Providing Material Support to Foreign Terrorist Organization" (2026-10-29): https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/alleged-engineer-cjng-cartels-cross-border-tunnel-indicted-providing-material-support
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement press release, "Homeland Security Task Force uncovers sophisticated cross-border tunnel, seizes $45 million worth of cocaine" (2026-06-04): https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/homeland-security-task-force-uncovers-sophisticated-cross-border-tunnel-seizes-45
• U.S. Department of State press release, "Designation of International Cartels" (2025-02-20): https://www.state.gov/designation-of-international-cartels/
• Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 555 (U.S. Government Publishing Office govinfo): https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title18/html/USCODE-2023-title18-partI-chap27-sec555.htm
• U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California official X post (2026-10-29): https://x.com/SDCAnews/status/2115950625645351128
• U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California official X post (2026-06-01): https://x.com/SDCAnews/status/2061620389495877784