Convicted Drug Traffickers Caught Trying to Re-enter U.S. Through Drainage Tunnel
Two convicted drug traffickers, previously deported, were caught attempting illegal re-entry through a San Diego drainage tunnel as Border Patrol reports historic lows in unauthorized crossings amid intensified enforcement.
Dark water stained the concrete walls as two convicted drug traffickers crawled through a San Diego drainage tunnel last week, hoping to slip back into the United States. Both men had already been deported once. One had been deported twice. They tried anyway.
Raudel Carrillo-Padilla, 35, and his brother Ivan, 31, were among 19 people Border Patrol apprehended on May 4 at 10:40 p.m. Both Mexican nationals were convicted in 2017 for possession, transport and intent to sell methamphetamine in Yreka, California, then deported following their convictions. Ivan faced a second deportation after a 2019 drug arrest in Eugene, Oregon.
This latest apprehension arrives as Border Patrol records the lowest flow of illegal crossings in decades. The San Diego Sector reported just 1,793 apprehensions in the first two months of FY2026, a 93 percent drop from 24,735 during the same period in FY2025. Nationwide, FY2025 apprehensions totaled 237,538, the lowest since 1970 according to Pew Research Center data.
Border Patrol agents from the Chula Vista Station detected the group using Remote Video Surveillance System technology. The San Diego Sector Tunnel Team responded to clear the drainage system, finding 16 adults and three unaccompanied minors, all Mexican citizens. All 19 were transported to the Chula Vista Station for processing to face either removal or federal prosecution.
"These smuggling attempts are not only dangerous, but they also frequently involve individuals who pose a threat to public safety," San Diego Sector Chief Patrol Agent Justin De La Torre said in a CBP press release. "Thanks to the vigilance of our agents and the effective use of surveillance technology, this group, which included convicted drug traffickers, was apprehended before they could move further into our communities."
The drainage system operation reflects a broader pattern of underground smuggling adaptation. More than 95 tunnels have been found and decommissioned in the San Diego area since 1993. In April 2025, agents discovered a 2,918-foot sophisticated cross-border drug tunnel equipped with electrical wiring, ventilation, lighting and a rail system near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
"As we continue to strengthen the nation's air and maritime border security, it's not surprising that foreign terrorist organizations would resort to underground routes," Acting Chief Patrol Agent Jeffrey Stalnaker said in a 2025 statement. "Disruption of narcotics smuggling tunnels is critical to protecting American lives."
The human cost of drainage tunnel use became tragically clear in November 2019, when 20 migrants were trapped in a flooded drainage tube in the Tijuana River Valley. Border Patrol and San Diego lifeguards rescued all 20. One additional person was found dead on the beach near the Tijuana River mouth.
"The storm drain system is dangerous and poses serious risks to not only the migrants but to our Border Patrol Agents and law enforcement partners," Acting Chief Patrol Agent Anthony Scott Good said in February 2024 after 69 migrants were arrested in El Paso's public storm drain system. Agents noted that some storm drains measure only a few inches in diameter, creating drowning and suffocation risks.
The Carrillo-Padilla brothers' apprehension underscores the direct connection between tunnel smuggling and drug trafficking. The San Diego Sector seized a record-breaking 11,311 pounds of methamphetamine in FY2025. In the first two months of FY2026 alone, agents intercepted 970 pounds of meth, 555 pounds of cocaine and 113 pounds of fentanyl.
Border enforcement policies have produced measurable results over the past year. U.S. Border Patrol has gone 12 consecutive months without releasing any illegal immigrants into the interior through April 2026, according to Department of Homeland Security records.
"Twelve straight months of ZERO releases at the border," DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated this month. "Under President Donald Trump's leadership, we are delivering the most secure border in American history. The days of catch and release are over."
CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott contrasted current policies with those of the previous administration. "The U.S. Border Patrol released zero illegal aliens into our country again this month," Scott said in May, "unlike April 2024 when more than 68,000 were released under President Biden."
Chief Patrol Agent De La Torre explained how policy changes have transformed border dynamics. "By no longer releasing people into the U.S., we have removed the incentive for those considering illegal entry via smuggling routes," he said. "We no longer have people illegally entering and surrendering to agents, expecting to be released."
The enforcement strategy includes sustained infrastructure investment. Approximately 14 miles of additional barrier are being added along the eastern portion of the San Diego Sector. Nationally, three miles of new border wall are built weekly, according to Washington Office on Latin America tracking.
"We're averaging less than 30 people a day that we're arresting for unlawful entry into the U.S.," De La Torre told 10News in December. "We contrast that with a couple of years ago, 2024, we were averaging almost 900 people a day illegally entering."
The San Diego Sector chief delivered a clear message to those attempting illegal crossings. "If you try to illegally cross our border, we will catch you and arrest you," De La Torre stated.