EL PASO, Texas – A Mexican man has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to smuggle migrants into the United States through a sophisticated underground tunnel connecting Ciudad Juarez and El Paso, the Department of Justice announced. The individual, identified as Luis Carlos Davalos-Lopez, 29, was part of a larger network that allegedly charged up to $30,000 per person for illicit passage.
Guilty Plea in Migrant Smuggling Case
Davalos-Lopez entered his guilty plea to the charge of conspiring to smuggle migrants into the United States. Federal authorities initially discovered the tunnel in January 2025, describing it as a highly sophisticated structure designed for illegal cross-border activities. The investigation revealed that the tunnel was used to traffic individuals from Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, into El Paso, Texas.
The Discovery and Investigation of the Tunnel
The tunnel, connecting the two border cities, was first located in January 2025. According to investigators, the structure was elaborate, indicating a significant level of planning and resources. During the ongoing investigation, law enforcement agents intercepted communications in which Davalos-Lopez and his co-conspirators discussed the logistics of migrant smuggling through the underground passage. These conversations also detailed the exorbitant fees, reportedly up to $30,000, charged to individuals seeking to enter the U.S. without inspection.
Cartel Link and Related Charges
The FBI has explicitly linked the tunnel’s construction and operation to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a powerful transnational criminal organization. The cartel allegedly utilized the tunnel not only for human trafficking but also for the smuggling of drugs and weapons. This case also involves allegations of firearms being transported from the United States into Mexico, further highlighting the multifaceted nature of the criminal enterprise.
Co-conspirators and Weapons Trafficking
Davalos-Lopez and two other alleged accomplices were formally indicted in April 2025. Subsequently, the Mexican government transferred Davalos-Lopez to U.S. custody under its National Security Law. Among his co-defendants, Maria Del Rosario Navarro-Sanchez, 40, pleaded guilty on August 27 to conspiring to provide material support to the CJNG through weapons trafficking. Another accused, Gustavo Castro-Medina, 29, admitted to acting as an intermediary for a $3,000 payment intended for the purchase of weapons.
Sentencing and Law Enforcement Efforts
Davalos-Lopez faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy. The date for his sentencing has not yet been determined. U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons, emphasized the significance of these convictions, stating, “The convictions obtained in this case are another nail in the coffin of these transnational criminal organizations and foreign terrorist organizations.”
The successful investigation was a collaborative effort involving multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, ATF, DEA, and HSI, with crucial support from the U.S. Border Patrol and Mexican authorities. This case underscores the ongoing challenges and complexities of border security and the continuous efforts by law enforcement to dismantle sophisticated smuggling networks.
Source: https://www.univision.com/local/san-antonio-kwex/ciudad-juarez-el-paso-luis-carlos-davalos-lopez-trafico-de-migrantes-tunel-fronterizo-texas
