By "El Huaso" for Borderland Beat
Authorities captured two tunnel drilling machines after searching a building in Mexicali, Baja California, according to a Federal Attorney General's Office (FGR) press release. The machines were being used to drill a tunnel for smuggling narcotics between Mexicali, and Calexico, California.
Authorities investigated after receiving an anonymous tip reported armed men. Policía Federal Ministerial searched the building, where they located the tunnel drill, which was being used to create a tunnel between Mexicali and Calexico, on the United States side of the border.
The machine appears to be a Vermeer Navigator D24X40 SERIES III Directional Drill. On the used market, these cost between $150,000 - 400,000 USD.
This specialized machine is used for boring holes through earth and rock. According to the manufacturer site, this model is one of the quietest directional drills, creating a noise measuring 103 decibels, about the sound a subway train makes.
Photos show walls of the building covered with sound absorbing foam panels, used to muffle the noise created from the digging.
Tunnels like this one are used to smuggle narcotics under the border wall, bypassing smuggling in vehicles through one of the border crossings. United States authorities have identified this region as being replete with narco tunnels, with US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar claiming that there are over 200 in the area. It is unclear if he meant at that time, or in a certain time frame.
Retired DEA agent Mike Vigil told InSight Crime that narco tunnels cost criminal groups in Mexico around 1 - 2 million USD to create, but can pay off their value quickly.
Source: FGR Press release, InSight Crime, MachineryTrader, Vermeer, Zeta Tijuana
Very sophisticated shiiiit
ReplyDeleteNo kidding! And equipment like that (not made in Mx) is 30% minimum more to import.
DeleteThese machines are pretty hard to come by in good condition used and have to be special ordered if you buy new. This was a pretty good hit to the cartel.
ReplyDeleteassuming they did another tunnels by then probably paid by it self already
DeleteDont agree with you, you call their service hotline, if you are willing to pay for it, they will send some tech guys and spare parts and fix that thing. And i assume they are able to setup a nice front company as cover.
DeleteEl Chapo Drilling Services, heheheheheee!!!
ReplyDeleteKen Salazar should show the tunnels he knows about and stop talking shit, same goes for mikey Vigil, who has always known everything about drug trafficking but always failed to do anything about it on a timely basis.
El Señor de Los Tunnels .
ReplyDelete#701 # lachapiza # gentenueva
You sound retarded
DeleteYo momma sounded retarded when she got her dark tunnel penetrated.
Delete9:21 everybody sounds retarded, there is this young girl repeating what her father and mother were saying on bed, You Tube, very very funny
DeleteRe:4:22
Delete--Little boy explaining the noises he hears coming from his parents bedroom
/best damn videos
--Make sure kids are sleeping before.../fresalina
Now who's could these belong too?
ReplyDeleteMachines were made in China
ReplyDeleteWhy are there egg cartons all over the ground?
ReplyDeleteread the article, it is mentioned why
DeleteIt’s a recording studio
DeleteEgg cartons are used for sound absorption on walls
ReplyDeleteTunnellers like eggs for breakfast?
ReplyDeleteAnd lunch?
And supper?
This is a 24x40 directional drill. can drill 500 ft with the rods on rack. Someone had to guide the head on the direction they wanted to go.i know I'm a bore guy drilling is what I do. I don't use Vermeer I use ditch witch.
ReplyDelete