Un túnel secreto entre Ciudad Juárez y El Paso, descubierto por la Patrulla Fronteriza de Estados Unidos, ha sido relacionado con el Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), según reveló el FBI. Este hallazgo destapa una red criminal que opera con una impunidad alarmante, evidenciando la incapacidad de las autoridades para frenar el crimen organizado en la frontera.
El túnel, equipado con iluminación, ventilación y vigas de madera, conectaba ambos lados de la frontera a través de un desagüe pluvial. Su entrada, oculta bajo una placa metálica de menos de un metro cuadrado, permitía el paso de personas y posiblemente drogas, en una operación que habría estado activa desde 2019. La sofisticación del sistema muestra el nivel de organización del CJNG.
María del Rosario Navarro Sánchez, alias “La Chayo”, es señalada como la figura clave detrás de esta operación. A Q Accused of providing material support to a terrorist organization, Navarro Sánchez faces charges for her alleged role in supplying grenades, trafficking migrants, firearms, cash, and narcotics for the CJNG. Her involvement underscores the cartel’s deep reach into Chihuahua.
Initially attributed to “La Línea,” a rival faction, the tunnel’s connection to the CJNG was revealed through an FBI-released photograph. This shift in attribution raises questions about the accuracy of prior intelligence and the true extent of the CJNG’s influence in the region.
The DEA’s 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment labels the CJNG as one of Mexico’s most ruthless and powerful transnational criminal organizations. It highlights the cartel’s role as a major supplier of illicit fentanyl to the United States, fueling a deadly crisis across the border.
The tunnel, described as a “VIP” passage for illegal crossings, reportedly cost migrants up to $10,000 per person. Social media accounts from migrants claim it was used for years, with some describing a 15-minute crossing and all-inclusive travel packages from Chiapas to the U.S. for $200,000.
The U.S. government’s February designation of the CJNG as a Foreign Terrorist Organization has intensified scrutiny. This label allows for stronger criminal charges, signaling a tougher stance against the cartel’s operations, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and extortion.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi called cartels like the CJNG “terrorist groups” responsible for widespread harm in both nations. The accusations against Navarro Sánchez include conspiring to smuggle migrants, traffic firearms, and distribute controlled substances, painting a grim picture of the cartel’s diverse criminal portfolio.
The discovery of the tunnel highlights a broader failure to secure the border, with organized crime exploiting weak enforcement. The CJNG’s growing presence in Chihuahua and beyond continues to challenge authorities, leaving communities on both sides of the border vulnerable to escalating violence and trafficking.