Suspected drug-smuggling tunnel discovered using drones at Arizona-Mexico border

 A smuggling tunnel still under construction was discovered by authorities at the Arizona-Mexico border – marking the third underground passage found in the area, officials said.

US Customs and Border Protection agents, along with Mexican authorities, spotted the tunnel’s entrance using drones in San Luis Río Colorado, a Mexican city just south of Yuma near the southern border, the secretariat of Public Security in Sonora announced on Dec. 26. 

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US Customs and Border Protection agents and Mexican authorities spotted the tunnel entrance in Mexico using drones.facebook/sonoraseguridad

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The tunnel entrance was located in San Luis Rio Colorado in Mexico, just south of the Arizona-Mexico border.facebook/sonoraseguridad

“Implementing the Border Security Protocol and using technology critical points were identified to strengthen surveillance in the area,” the law enforcement agency posted on Facebook with photos of the steep dirt tunnel. 

Mexican authorities suspect a “narco tunnel” was being built to smuggle drugs or people under the border wall and into the US, according to AZ Family.

The tunnel has since been shut down. Authorities believe it was in its early stages of construction. 

The discovery marked the third tunnel found near Yuma last year, according to Mexican authorities.

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Authorities believe the underground pathway was a “narco tunnel” used for smuggling drugs or people.facebook/sonoraseguridad

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The tunnel was found last month in a joint operation between the pair of agencies.facebook/sonoraseguridad

It’s not uncommon for the cartel to use sophisticated tunnels equipped with electricity and air vents to transport illegal drugs.

In January 2020, the US discovered the longest known drug tunnel at the time that stretched three-quarters of a mile between Tijuana and San Diego.

The tunnel had a rail system and elevator, according to US Customs and Border Protection.

https://nypost.com/2025/01/04/us-news/suspected-drug-smuggling-tunnel-discovered-using-drones-at-arizona-mexico-border/

Texas officials warn of ‘man-eater’ bug detected in livestock at southern Mexico border

 Texas wildlife officials are on the lookout for a flesh-devouring fly larvae known as the “Man-eater” after cases of the sickening vermin were recorded in Mexico.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department issued a statement asking hunters and outdoor enthusiasts in South Texas to watch out for New World Screwworm fly, whose larvae are known to enter wounds and body cavities and eat victims alive.

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The larvae of the New World Screwworm feasts
on the flesh of its host animal.CDC

The warning comes after a cow at an inspection checkpoint in the Mexican state of Chiapas, near Guatemala, was found to have the flesh-earing larvae of the Screwworm fly.

This is part of a trend of cases being detected moving further north, according to Texas officials.

“Those who enjoy Texas’ natural resources have the opportunity to serve as the first line of defense to protect wildlife, livestock and human health,” TPWD Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. J Hunter said in the release. “Their eyes and ears will be critical to quickly responding to and managing this threat.”

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The NWS fly was eradicated in the United States but continues to plague parts of South America.US Department of Agriculture

The tarrying fly — whose Latin name, hominivorax translates to ‘man-eater’ — lays its eggs in open wounds or holes in living tissue, such as nostrils.

The maggots will then hatch and feast on the flesh of their host organism.

Targets for the man-eating Screwworm are primarily livestock — but birds, deer, and humans can also be infected.

The flies were eradicated from the United States in 1966 and eradication efforts are ongoing in Central America, according to the release.

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Livestock, including cows, are the main target of the NWS fly.REUTERS

The pest is widespread in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and South American countries.

Clinical signs of an fly infection include irritated or depressed behavior, shaking of the head, smell of rotted meat, isolation from other animals or people, and, integrally, the presence of fly larvae in wounds, the release states.

https://nypost.com/2025/01/04/us-news/texas-officials-warning-of-man-eater-bug-detected-in-at-southern-mexico-border/