BajaNomad - Tunnel, 20 tons of pot found at California-Mexico border

Tunnel, 20 tons of pot found at California-Mexico border

Taco de Baja - 11-3-2010 at 01:10 PM

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_16513224

Tunnel, 20 tons of pot found at California-Mexico border
Associated Press
Posted: 11/03/2010 11:45:16 AM PDT
Updated: 11/03/2010 12:44:32 PM PDT

SAN DIEGO -- U.S. authorities have discovered 20 tons of pot near a tunnel connecting warehouses on either side of California's border with Mexico.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Lauren Mack says today that the tunnel ran 600 yards under the border near San Diego. It had lighting, ventilation and a rail system for sending carts of drugs into the United States.

Mack says the tunnel ended close to California's Otay Mesa port of entry.

Officials have found 125 tunnels since they started recording them in the early 1990s. Of those, 75 have been found in the past four years, most along the California and Arizona border with Mexico.

Brian L - 11-3-2010 at 01:11 PM

Wouldn't need the tunnels if Prop 19 had passed... :bounce:

Woooosh - 11-3-2010 at 01:18 PM

I wonder how close the tunnel was to the truckloads of pot found last week.

TJ-SD tunnel discovered; over 24 (?) tons of marijuana inside

BajaNews - 11-3-2010 at 01:18 PM

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/nov/03/border-tunnel-discovere...

By Amy Isackson
November 3, 2010

Tijuana — United States and Mexican authorities have discovered a drug-smuggling tunnel that runs between a warehouse in Tijuana and one in Otay Mesa in San Diego.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities say they discovered 20 tons of marijuana in the warehouse on the U.S. side.

Meanwhile, Mexican soldiers say they confiscated 4.5 tons of marijuana at the tunnel's entrance on their side. Soldiers standing guard outside the two-story cement block building in Tijuana say the tunnel drops about 18 feet under ground before heading beneath the border fence to San Diego.

The building in Tijuana is about a half block from a Pioneer factory, or maquiladora, where electronics devices are assembled for the U.S. The border fence is just on the other side of that factory.

ICE officials say the tunnel isn't tall enough to walk through, so smugglers would have to crawl. ICE officials say the department's national director, John Morton, will tour the tunnel later this afternoon, along with San Diego's U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy and other federal officials.

A massive drug smuggling tunnel was unearthed not far from this one in 2006. It plunged more that 80 feet underground before surfacing inside an enormous warehouse in Otay Mesa and was equipped with lighting, drainage and ventilation systems.

U.S. authorities say drug smugglers have resorted to using tunnels to pass illicit material across the border as border enforcement above ground has gotten tougher.

Woooosh - 11-3-2010 at 01:20 PM

can't believe you got beat to the post by a taco, even if only by seconds.

you could be the first one to post about the tourist robbed and shot in Rosarito Beach yesterday though... :saint:

[Edited on 11-3-2010 by Woooosh]

Sophisticated Smuggling Tunnel Containing Rail System, Oxygen Pumps, And 30 Tons of Marijuana Discovered

Gypsy Jan - 11-4-2010 at 04:21 AM

"It's not pretty, but this hole in the ground is the sign of an expert drug smuggler. It's part of a 600-yard tunnel under the California-Mexico border and it connects a warehouse in Tijuana with one in San Diego.

Now while some might think that a smuggling tunnel like this is little more than a plot device in Weeds, it seems it's not terribly uncommon—in fact, about 125 have been discovered since the 1990s. The only trouble is that it's quite tough to actually find them. There are special U.S. border tunnel task forces dedicated to tracking them down and they use the latest ground-penetrating technology as well as robot scouts to search for and through them.

Despite all that tech, there aren't too many details available to us about the recently discovered tunnel in the photo above. We do know that it definitely housed a reasonably high-tech operation considering that it contained proper rail, lighting and ventilation systems as well as 30 tons of marijuana. [CNN]"

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/11/03/san.diego.border.tunnel/...

[Edited on 11-4-2010 by Gypsy Jan]

DENNIS - 11-4-2010 at 05:42 AM

Pot is a renewable resource. This will only hurt somebody for a little while.

Cypress - 11-4-2010 at 05:53 AM

Just legalize pot. The govt. has no business telling me what I can or cannot smoke, eat, or drink. For that matter just close down the ATF and legalize all drugs or drinks. Prohibition didn't work and keeping drugs illegal isn't working.

mcfez - 11-4-2010 at 07:31 AM

Amazing, if Prop 19 had passed, Cali would have just come into $20 mil of free revenue. Gotta love it.

DENNIS - 11-4-2010 at 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcfez
Amazing, if Prop 19 had passed, Cali would have just come into $20 mil of free revenue. Gotta love it.

California law doesn't trump federal law, even if the voters want it that way.....which I guess they don't.

Pompano - 11-4-2010 at 09:37 AM

Does smoking pot make you

Bob H - 11-4-2010 at 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
Pot is a renewable resource. This will only hurt somebody for a little while.

Very well stated Dennis!

motoged - 11-4-2010 at 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pompano
Does smoking pot make you

uh, .......... dunno

Phil S - 11-4-2010 at 11:38 AM

Well, I guess the voters have a message for you "pot" smokers. They don't want it.
Can't say that I blame them. sure ruined my sons life. He started with marajuana he said, and progressed to the "other drugs". Now 16 years later, his daughter (who started with marajuana she said) and in about one year, was using needles to get her 'high'. So go ahead youse guys & girls, who obviously have not had to go through this with your kids, keep promoting legal useage of drugs, and people like my wife & my family and my friends & their families & their friends, etc, etc. etc. will keep voting down your lousy ballot measures until you give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We got the clinical marajuana measure in Oregon defeated. Always the 'users versus the smart ones'!!!!! When will it ever stop? We will always prevail!!!! For those that wonder: grandaughter has now spent two times in a drug rehab center. And a gorgeous thing at that. And only 16. What a waste. Now clean. But the question will always be there. For how long clean????? Prayers help a little!!!!

[Edited on 11-4-2010 by Phil S]

Cypress - 11-4-2010 at 12:57 PM

Phil S, Sorry that your family has addictive issues with illegal drugs. That's the point! It makes no sense to make a substance illegal that is available to teenagers in any town in the US. Legalize it just like alcohol. Legalize pot and control it.

durrelllrobert - 11-4-2010 at 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cypress
Just legalize pot. The govt. has no business telling me what I can or cannot smoke, eat, or drink. For that matter just close down the ATF and legalize all drugs or drinks. Prohibition didn't work and keeping drugs illegal isn't working.

tobacco is still legal but the government still tells us we can't smoke it almost everywhere :fire:

Brian L - 11-4-2010 at 04:32 PM

Phil S. Sorry about that too, but it sounds like some people have addictive personalities, and no matter what there is, they'll use it and abuse it.

If it was legal (starting at the federal level), think of the money that would be saved in policing it. Think of the revenue to make in taxes...

Sure it wouldn't be perfect, but neither is alcohol and tobacco...

Cypress - 11-4-2010 at 06:17 PM

I don't smoke pot, used to way back when, I'm lazy enough without being zonked on pot. The law enforcement agencies could direct their resources to real criminals and leave the harmless drug users alone, save a lot of money. We have too much govt. and too many laws.

Going to Pot !

MrBillM - 11-4-2010 at 08:38 PM

For Refuge from Reality ?

Best line I heard today on the news was the California Gal that said "When I saw that they'd re-elected Barbara Boxer, I wished that they HAD legalized Pot".

monoloco - 11-4-2010 at 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Phil S
Well, I guess the voters have a message for you "pot" smokers. They don't want it.
Can't say that I blame them. sure ruined my sons life. He started with marajuana he said, and progressed to the "other drugs". Now 16 years later, his daughter (who started with marajuana she said) and in about one year, was using needles to get her 'high'. So go ahead youse guys & girls, who obviously have not had to go through this with your kids, keep promoting legal useage of drugs, and people like my wife & my family and my friends & their families & their friends, etc, etc. etc. will keep voting down your lousy ballot measures until you give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We got the clinical marajuana measure in Oregon defeated. Always the 'users versus the smart ones'!!!!! When will it ever stop? We will always prevail!!!! For those that wonder: grandaughter has now spent two times in a drug rehab center. And a gorgeous thing at that. And only 16. What a waste. Now clean. But the question will always be there. For how long clean????? Prayers help a little!!!!

[Edited on 11-4-2010 by Phil S]

Blaming it on a herb is easier than examining one's parenting skills, or lack there of. I have observed that children whose parents are actively involved in their lives don't have drug problems. This is no different than saying alcohol should be illegal because some people will become alcoholics.

Brian L - 11-4-2010 at 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by monoloco

Quote:

Wow, that was a bit harsh. I hope you know PhilS.

k-rico - 11-4-2010 at 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Phil S
Well, I guess the voters have a message for you "pot" smokers. They don't want it.
[Edited on 11-4-2010 by Phil S]

44% voted for prop 19, 56% against.

back to the smuggling issue. I'm aware of about 150 tons of pot being confiscated in TJ in the last few weeks.

150 tons!!!

[Edited on 11-5-2010 by k-rico]

tripledigitken - 11-4-2010 at 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by k-rico

Quote:

Originally posted by Phil S
Well, I guess the voters have a message for you "pot" smokers. They don't want it.
[Edited on 11-4-2010 by Phil S]

44% voted for prop 19, 56% against.

back to the smuggling issue. I'm aware of about 150 tons of pot being confiscated in TJ in the last few weeks.

150 tons!!!

[Edited on 11-5-2010 by k-rico]

First no on prop 19 and now the confiscated pot, I'll bet there are some bummed-out old hippies out there. :lol:

Ken

Cypress - 11-5-2010 at 04:10 AM

Who know's, smoking pot might actually have beneficial effects upon some personality types? :?:

In any case, if someone has tendencies towards self destruction they're gonna find a "drug" of choice. Some people choose food, some choose $, and some just follow whatever crowd that happens by.

Phil S - 11-5-2010 at 07:24 AM

Monoloco. Didn't realize you were a drug counselor. "addiction issues"????
Had you also thought of the "druggies" who break & enter to satisfy their drug addiction needs? Have you thought of the "larger" picture if anyone could access it?
It wouldn't be safe to be driving on the streets. Not that it isn't a problem as it is these days. Wonder what they'd say if the criminals who are in prison were to be interviewed as to how many would say, "it all started when I took a pull on a marajuana cigarette?" I know that arguing the benefits of marajuana legalization versus, control is like trying to get a Republican to come around to the democrats way of thinking/voting.
Viva la Baja

DENNIS - 11-5-2010 at 07:39 AM

Without straying to far from the point which was....oh, yeah, a tunnel, we have to take some time to be relevantly entertained:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0404364/

monoloco - 11-5-2010 at 07:46 AM

100 million people in the US have used marijuana and there are millions of people who are doctors, lawyers, business owners, etc. who use it responsibly just as millions of people choose to come home from work and have a c-cktail or two to relax. It is a substance that has been in use for over 5000 years with never a recorded death (can't say that about alcohol)making it the safest of any psycho-active substance. The argument that it leads to heroin addiction is as ridiculous as saying beer leads to heroin addiction (after all, all those heroin addicts probably drank beer before they started shooting up) the fact is that there is a certain percentage of the population that is going to end up addicted to something be it drugs, alcohol, food, sex, etc., but that is no reason to criminalize them for everyone.

Cypress - 11-5-2010 at 10:35 AM

Phil S, Pot's illegal. Drug problem solved. Case closed. :lol:

Big pharma's happy, the alcoholic beverage industry is thrilled, and law enforcement has a "cash cow" it can continue to milk. The illegalization of pot is the 21st. century's version of the prohibition of alcohol, just as effective and will eventually be discarded.

Costs versus Taxes

MrBillM - 11-5-2010 at 02:20 PM

Not too long ago, a lot of the same people who were advocating legalizing Pot to reap the tax benefits were the same people who "Claimed" that the COSTS to society of Alcohol and Tobacco usage were NINE times the Tax benefits.

Would not the same be true (or worse) regarding expanded Pot usage ?

Cypress - 11-5-2010 at 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrBillM
"Claimed" the COSTS to society of Alcohol and Tobacco usage were NINE times the Tax benefits.
Would not the same be true (or worse) regarding expanded Pot usage ?

"Claimed"? Don't believe all those "Claims" about any and everything. Is govt./society responsible for ever idiot that comes down the pike? Do you feel responsible for all the bad decisions made by other people? I hope not.

toneart - 11-5-2010 at 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cypress
Phil S, Pot's illegal. Drug problem solved. Case closed. :lol:

The POINT Being .............

MrBillM - 11-5-2010 at 04:27 PM

That many of the people in favor of legalizing Pot for the purposes of Taxation were those in the past claiming that the costs to society for alcohol and tobacco were far in excess of the taxes realized.

I wasn't saying that I believed any of it.

I don't care one way or the other. MY reasons for voting against Prop 19 were based upon other considerations.

and, WE WON.

DENNIS - 11-5-2010 at 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrBillM
WE WON.

Shallow victory, Bill. I don't much care either, but it's just a matter of time.

Better THEN than NOW

MrBillM - 11-5-2010 at 07:16 PM

NOTHING is inevitable in Politics. 2008 and 2010 are proof of that. All sorts of events can change the landscape at any minute.

Even in California. Meg Whitman "might" have been able to spend enough to beat the Moonbeam if she hadn't hired (and fired) an illegal alien.

Quien Sabe ?

Let them try again and we'll fight that one when it comes.

monoloco - 11-6-2010 at 07:27 AM

I thought that conservatism was supposed to be all about less regulation, smaller government, personal responsibility, yada yada. So why are self proclaimed conservatives so willing to criminalize a large portion of the population and spend billions of dollars of the taxpayers money prosecuting and incarcerating people for using a substance that is less harmful than alcohol?

[Edited on 11-6-2010 by monoloco]

Bajaboy - 11-6-2010 at 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by monoloco
I thought that conservatism was supposed to be all about less regulation, smaller government, personal responsibility, yada yada. So why are self proclaimed conservatives so willing to criminalize a large portion of the population and spend billions of dollars of the taxpayers money prosecuting and incarcerating people for using a substance that is less harmful than alcohol?

[Edited on 11-6-2010 by monoloco]

For the same reason they say to reduce the deficit unless that means eliminating the Bush tax cuts...then it's okay. Or no Gov't run health care but don't get rid of Medicare or the VA. The hypocrisy is endless in politics.

[Edited on 11-6-2010 by Bajaboy]

Conservatism

MrBillM - 11-6-2010 at 10:25 AM

That OLD argument comes from an (Intentional) misreading of Conservative values.

Conservatism is NOT about LESS Regulation and LESS Government per se, but rather about the LEAST Government necessary to achieve the Values and Standards Necessary to protect the populace as embodied in the Constitution and the Will of the Majority while guaranteeing the Human Rights of all individuals. It IS about empowering the Federal government ONLY to the extent that State and Local government is unable to adequately address a COMMON concern.

The Federal government has a proper role in controlling dangerous drugs since state-by-state control would be inadequate and dangerous to the population as a whole.

Cypress - 11-6-2010 at 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrBillM
The Federal government has a proper role in controlling dangerous drugs since state-by-state control would be inadequate and dangerous to the population as a whole.

OK? I agree, it's all about control.

But, when you get right down to it, isn't it about controlling the freedom of choice of individuals? :?:

ckiefer - 11-6-2010 at 01:29 PM

Here's something for the "potheads" out there:

http://thepotheaddiaries.com/

The music isn't my favorite and the earlier versions of the T-shirts were really cute!

I'm not soliciting any business for them or anyone else I just get a little irritated when I see negative posting about "potheads". There are those who are helped by this herb, cannabis, and I do have family members that have life threatening illnesses that big pharma cannot help. Cannabis helps them! Some can smoke it for immediate relief, others must enjoy the edibles that I make for them. Wonderful; as I do not believe that anyone needs to suffer. So please do not lump us all in one category. We come from all backgrounds, religious or not, and all income brackets and education, color, size, gender....cancer, AIDS, neurological diseases and a whole host of other less life threatening disease/illnesses that do not pick and choose who to affect....who to attack....who to kill.

Those who are "medicating", be it cannabis, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, for recreational purposes should be aware they are in fact "medicating themselves", my personal favorite is a freshly made margarita with a little fresh o.j. mixed in. Obviously, this is not for children. I started Budweiser out of a can no less.....(nasty stuff that is!) Luckily for me I do not have an addictive personality, never succumbed to peer pressure, don't blame my parents or anyone or anything else for what could be wrong with my life. Sometimes S&it just happens....Yes, sometimes I get mad or sad or someone just eff's me over....I yell, I curse, I'll have a pity party.....but I always get over it! My brother wasn't so lucky. I think he started with Budweiser too....he's dead.

Yea to California for Prop 215, and to Arnie for signing a bill affectively making possession of up to an ounce equal to a speeding ticket.

To those who live in other states that say/vote no to allowing those with qualifying conditions to be treated with mother earth's herb...please educate yourselves. Visit a cancer patient, visit a dying man or woman who's only pleasure left in life is the calm and smile on their face while being medicated with a "hit" or cannabutter goodie....better yet.....how about volunteering to care for that patient for six months...oh yes...full time. It will be then that you see the need of those people.

With enough time and patience you will all see what this herb can do for you! Why? Even if you're lucky enough to escape the more dreaded disease, look down....those knees? They'll be talking to you someday! Asking you why on earth did you buybuild that house will all those stairs and narrow door widths! :yes:

Have a great day....

Cypress - 11-6-2010 at 05:03 PM

ckiefer, Thank's! You're right. The anti-pot crowd is in denial, a better term might be "willfully ignorant". Our grandchildren will laugh at how stupid we we were by continueing to demonize pot.

Once You're Dead

MrBillM - 11-6-2010 at 06:59 PM

Why Give a Crap who laughs or cries ?

I'll settle for fighting the fight here and now.

[Edited on 11-7-2010 by MrBillM]

monoloco - 11-6-2010 at 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrBillM

The Federal government has a proper role in controlling dangerous drugs since state-by-state control would be inadequate and dangerous to the population as a whole.

The key word there is dangerous, the only thing dangerous about marijuana is getting busted.