NEW DRUG TUNNEL FOUND AT BORDER

Mexican federal agents discovered a drug tunnel near the beach between
Tijuana and San Diego, Mexico's federal attorney general's office said
Saturday.

The tunnel, which appeared to run under the metal fence dividing the two
countries, was discovered Friday, attorney general spokesman Abraham
Sarabia said. It was originally built near Tijuana's beach to get rid of
extra water from a nearby and now unused water treatment plant.

The 80-foot-long tunnel contained recent handprints and cart tracks,
indicating it was likely used to sneak drugs or possibly illegal immigrants
to the United States, Sarabia said. However, most border tunnels are used
only to move drugs. Sarabia said the tunnel was near a residential area
along Mexico's Pacific coast and was more than 3 feet wide and 30 inches tall.

He said U.S. officials had been notified of the tunnel, which will be sealed.

It was the fifth tunnel discovered in recent months along the U.S.-Mexico
border.

In March, American drug agents discovered a tunnel the length of four
football fields with electricity and ventilation pipes. The agents said
smugglers probably used it for at least three years to transport marijuana
and cocaine. The agents also found 500 pounds of marijuana at the U.S. end
of the tunnel, which was beneath the border in eastern San Diego County.