LYNDEN, Wash. (July 21) - Federal agents have shut down an elaborate, 360-foot drug-smuggling tunnel dug underneath the U.S.-Canadian border - the first such passageway discovered along the nation's northern edge, officials said Thursday.
Five people were arrested on marijuana trafficking charges, U.S. Attorney John McKay said in this border town about 90 miles north of Seattle.
The tunnel ran from a quonset hut on the Canadian side and ended under the living room of a home on the U.S. side, 300 feet from the border. Built with lumber, concrete and metal reinforcing bars, it was equipped with lights and ventilation, and ran underneath a highway.
"It was well built, probably one of the most sophisticated tunnels we've ever seen," said Rod Benson, an agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. "There was a significant drug trafficking organization that was responsible for the construction."
The passageway was 3 1/2 to 4 feet high and wide, and ran anywhere from 3 to 10 feet below ground, authorities said.
"They were smart enough to build a sophisticated tunnel. They weren't smart enough to not get caught,'' McKay said.
McKay said authorities had been monitoring construction of the tunnel for six months and sealed it shortly after it opened Wednesday.
Video supplied by investigators showed that the inside of the tunnel was lined with wood supports and concrete reinforced with steel. The builders had installed a small cart to allow them to move freight or people from one end to the other.
The Tunnel
Investigators said it was the first time a drug smuggling tunnel had been found on the U.S.-Canada border, although more than 30 such tunnels have been uncovered on the border between Mexico and the United States.
Francis Devandra Raj, 30; Timothy Woo, 34; and Johnathan Valenzuela, 27, of Surrey, British Columbia, were arrested Wednesday. They were charged with conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana. Raj owns the property under the quonset hut, authorities said.
On July 16, two other people were arrested separately in Washington state for transporting marijuana that had come through the tunnel, said Greg Gassett, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent.
One was a woman who authorities said had 93 pounds of marijuana in her vehicle when she was stopped. The other was a man pulled over with 110 pounds of the drug.
On July 2, agents entered the home on the U.S. side to examine the tunnel. They later installed cameras and listening devices in the home.
Neighbors said the builders did a good job hiding their activities. "I'm kind of a nosy person... and I never seen any activity to speak of," said Mike Hamm, who lived not far from Raj's property.
There were unconfirmed reports that an audio tape of automobile repairs was used to mask the digging work inside the hut.
Canadian border officials were tipped off that something was being built in late 2003, and later received reports of wood being delivered to the Aldergrove property and debris being taken away.
U.S. investigators had secretly entered the Lyndon house on July 2, and installed monitoring equipment. A reporter said it appeared the builders had constructed a substantial storage space under the house.
The international boundary in the area of the tunnel is marked by a small ditch that runs between parallel Canadian and U.S. roads. American officials monitor the area with remote-controlled cameras.
07-21-05 21:44 EDT
Five people were arrested on marijuana trafficking charges, U.S. Attorney John McKay said in this border town about 90 miles north of Seattle.
The tunnel ran from a quonset hut on the Canadian side and ended under the living room of a home on the U.S. side, 300 feet from the border. Built with lumber, concrete and metal reinforcing bars, it was equipped with lights and ventilation, and ran underneath a highway.
"It was well built, probably one of the most sophisticated tunnels we've ever seen," said Rod Benson, an agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. "There was a significant drug trafficking organization that was responsible for the construction."
The passageway was 3 1/2 to 4 feet high and wide, and ran anywhere from 3 to 10 feet below ground, authorities said.
"They were smart enough to build a sophisticated tunnel. They weren't smart enough to not get caught,'' McKay said.
McKay said authorities had been monitoring construction of the tunnel for six months and sealed it shortly after it opened Wednesday.
Video supplied by investigators showed that the inside of the tunnel was lined with wood supports and concrete reinforced with steel. The builders had installed a small cart to allow them to move freight or people from one end to the other.
The Tunnel
Investigators said it was the first time a drug smuggling tunnel had been found on the U.S.-Canada border, although more than 30 such tunnels have been uncovered on the border between Mexico and the United States.
Francis Devandra Raj, 30; Timothy Woo, 34; and Johnathan Valenzuela, 27, of Surrey, British Columbia, were arrested Wednesday. They were charged with conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana. Raj owns the property under the quonset hut, authorities said.
On July 16, two other people were arrested separately in Washington state for transporting marijuana that had come through the tunnel, said Greg Gassett, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent.
One was a woman who authorities said had 93 pounds of marijuana in her vehicle when she was stopped. The other was a man pulled over with 110 pounds of the drug.
On July 2, agents entered the home on the U.S. side to examine the tunnel. They later installed cameras and listening devices in the home.
Neighbors said the builders did a good job hiding their activities. "I'm kind of a nosy person... and I never seen any activity to speak of," said Mike Hamm, who lived not far from Raj's property.
There were unconfirmed reports that an audio tape of automobile repairs was used to mask the digging work inside the hut.
Canadian border officials were tipped off that something was being built in late 2003, and later received reports of wood being delivered to the Aldergrove property and debris being taken away.
U.S. investigators had secretly entered the Lyndon house on July 2, and installed monitoring equipment. A reporter said it appeared the builders had constructed a substantial storage space under the house.
The international boundary in the area of the tunnel is marked by a small ditch that runs between parallel Canadian and U.S. roads. American officials monitor the area with remote-controlled cameras.
07-21-05 21:44 EDT
