Mexico to seal ‘TikTok tunnel’ to US
Mexican authorities plan to close a smuggling tunnel connecting it to Texas after its discovery was shared on TikTok Read Full Article at RT.com
Footage of the underground passage, believed to have been used for human trafficking, was posted on social media
Mexico will seal a smuggling tunnel that connects the border town of Ciudad Juarez to El Paso, Texas, an army official said on Saturday. The 1,000-foot (300-meter) underground passage, believed to have been used for human trafficking and illegal trade, was exposed last week after videos promoting its existence circulated on Chinese platform, TikTok.
The tunnel was discovered in a joint operation by US and Mexican security agencies, according to Jose Lemus Cisneros, commander of Ciudad Juarez’s military garrison, which is currently guarding the connector.
The entrance to the passage was found near Mexico’s Rio Bravo, across from Ciudad Juarez’s Mexicanidad plaza, while its exit was located on US territory near drainage gates in El Paso.
The tunnel was hidden inside a natural sewer system, which made initial detection difficult. The structure was supported by wooden beams and equipped with electricity and a ventilation system. According to Cisneros, authorities believe the tunnel’s construction must have taken as long as one or two years. The Mexican Attorney General’s Office has launched an investigation into the individuals responsible for the smuggling route.
