DOJ Charges El Ingeniero With Terrorism For CJNG Tunnel

• Luis Manuel Hernandez Victoria, known as “El Ingeniero,” faces terrorism charges for allegedly engineering a cross-border drug tunnel for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
• The CJNG was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration, elevating the severity of the charges against Hernandez Victoria.
• The sophisticated tunnel, 2,000 feet long and 55 feet deep, extended from Tijuana to a retail store in San Diego.
• Federal authorities seized $45 million worth of cocaine and over one ton of cocaine in connection with the tunnel's discovery.
• Hernandez Victoria, 60, faces potential life imprisonment and a $10 million fine if convicted of the charges, including providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

This case represents a critical development in how the U.S. government prosecutes individuals involved in cross-border criminal enterprises, particularly when those enterprises are linked to groups with terrorism designations.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced terrorism charges against Luis Manuel Hernandez Victoria, a 60-year-old Mexican national known as “El Ingeniero,” for his alleged role in constructing a sophisticated cross-border drug smuggling tunnel. A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Hernandez Victoria, accusing him of designing and building the underground passage for the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), an organization designated as a foreign terrorist group by the Trump administration.

Hernandez Victoria faces multiple serious charges, including providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to construct or finance a cross-border tunnel, conspiracy to use such a tunnel for drug importation, and conspiracy to import drugs. If convicted, he could face a life sentence in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. Mexican authorities in Jalisco, the cartel's base, apprehended Hernandez Victoria on October 15, seizing weapons and narcotics during the arrest.

The tunnel, which stretched approximately 2,000 feet, was discovered by federal authorities following a May 29 raid in San Diego’s Otay Mesa neighborhood. It originated in Tijuana and terminated inside a retail establishment in the U.S. known as Buy 4 Less. During the operation, investigators seized cocaine valued at $45 million. Additionally, federal authorities, in collaboration with San Diego County sheriff’s deputies, confiscated over one ton of cocaine from three separate vehicles linked to the operation.

The indictment of Luis Manuel Hernandez Victoria highlights the U.S. government's application of terrorism statutes against individuals facilitating drug trafficking for designated foreign terrorist organizations. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel, for which Hernandez Victoria allegedly engineered the tunnel, was formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Trump administration last year, a classification that significantly escalates the legal consequences for those who support its operations.

Adam Gordon, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, remarked that Hernandez "engineered his own downfall," underscoring the severity of the charges. Kevin Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in San Diego, emphasized the commitment of HSI and its task force partners to dismantle transnational criminal organizations that pose a threat to national security. Murphy stated that HSI would continue to utilize all available resources to bring cartel leaders and architects of cross-border smuggling tunnels, like Hernandez, to justice.

This case represents a critical development in how the U.S. government prosecutes individuals involved in cross-border criminal enterprises, particularly when those enterprises are linked to groups with terrorism designations. The charge of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization carries immense legal weight, reflecting a strategic shift to combat drug cartels not just as criminal syndicates but as entities threatening national security.

The cross-border tunnel attributed to Hernandez Victoria and the CJNG was a highly sophisticated engineering feat. Measuring 2,000 feet in length, 55 feet deep, and approximately 4.5 feet high, it featured reinforced walls, electricity, ventilation systems, and even rails to facilitate the movement of contraband. This level of construction points to significant resources and planning dedicated to circumventing border security measures.

Homeland Security Investigations had maintained surveillance on the Buy 4 Less store and several of its employees since December 2025. Investigators noted unusual activity, including minimal foot traffic inconsistent with a typical retail store, and observed employees transporting numerous suitcases in and out of the premises. These suitcases were then moved in vehicles or carried across the border, raising suspicions that ultimately led to the tunnel's discovery.

Hernandez Victoria is the seventh individual to face charges in connection with this particular tunnel. The discovery of such elaborate underground passages is not isolated; approximately 100 similar tunnels have been uncovered across Southern California over the past three decades, illustrating a persistent challenge for border enforcement. The CJNG itself, founded in 2011 from remnants of the Sinaloa Cartel-affiliated Milenio Cartel, operates extensively throughout Mexico and in dozens of other nations globally, further highlighting the transnational nature of the threats it poses. The DOJ's investigation into this network remains ongoing.

This case demonstrates the US government's expanded use of terrorism statutes against individuals facilitating drug trafficking for designated foreign terrorist organizations. Lawyers advising clients with cross-border operations or potential links to such groups must recognize the severe prosecutorial risks, including life imprisonment, beyond traditional drug charges.

Source: Original reporting via CN