DOJ Charges ‘El Ingeniero’ with Terrorism for Border Tunnel Scheme
DOJ indicts Luis Manuel Hernandez for building a drug tunnel for CJNG cartel.
Why it matters: This case highlights ongoing national security challenges as transnational cartels use sophisticated tunnels to smuggle narcotics. It reflects how U.S. prosecutors leverage terrorism laws to combat organized crime.
- Luis Manuel Hernandez Victoria, alias 'El Ingeniero,' charged for designing a 2,000-foot tunnel from San Diego to Tijuana.
- Tunnel features included reinforced walls, electricity, ventilation, and rails, demonstrating advanced construction.
- Authorities seized over 1 ton of cocaine valued at $45 million linked to the tunnel operation.
- Hernandez was arrested in Jalisco in October 2026 and awaits U.S. extradition.
- CJNG was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. State Department in February 2025.
The Department of Justice has charged Luis Manuel Hernandez Victoria, known as 'El Ingeniero,' for his role in constructing a sophisticated cross-border drug smuggling tunnel used by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). A federal grand jury indicted Hernandez for providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, a rare application of terrorism statutes in cartel prosecutions.
The tunnel spanned approximately 2,000 feet from a retail store in San Diego’s Otay Mesa neighborhood to Tijuana, Mexico. It was dug 55 feet deep, about 4.5 feet high, and included reinforced walls, electricity, ventilation systems, and rails to facilitate moving narcotics efficiently. This construction underscores the advanced methods employed by the CJNG to evade border security.
Federal authorities confiscated over one ton of cocaine from vehicles linked to the tunnel, with an estimated street value of $45 million. The CJNG was formally designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. Secretary of State on February 20, 2025, reflecting the group's threat beyond typical criminal activity.
Hernandez was apprehended by Mexican authorities in Jalisco on October 15, 2026. He is currently awaiting extradition to the United States to face charges, though details of the extradition timeline remain undisclosed.
U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman remarked, "Hernandez engineered his own downfall," emphasizing the strength of the evidence against him. DEA Administrator Terrance Cole noted, "This case underscores the evolving tactics of transnational criminal organizations and our commitment to dismantling their operations." Approximately 100 such tunnels have been found in Southern California over the past 30 years, illustrating the persistent challenge posed by these networks.
For more details, visit the DOJ's announcement and Courthouse News report.
By the numbers:
- 2,000 feet — tunnel length connecting San Diego and Tijuana
- 55 feet — tunnel depth beneath the border
- Over 1 ton — cocaine seized from tunnel-related vehicles valued at $45 million
- Approximately 100 — tunnels discovered in Southern California over 30 years
What's next: Extradition proceedings for Hernandez are pending, with no confirmed timeline for transfer to U.S. custody.