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Man pleads guilty to using Calif. drug-smuggling tunnel

Homeland Security Investigations agents discovered the tunnel at a warehouse in 2011

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The warehouse and the horizontal-drilling machine used to construct the tunnel.

Photo/U.S. Attorney’s Office

Associated Press

CALEXICO, Calif. — A man accused of operating a drug-smuggling tunnel in California has pleaded guilty after being arrested in May.

The 35-year-old spent nearly six years in a Mexico prison for gun trafficking before being arrested in the U.S.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Monday that Habib Mujica pleaded guilty to conspiring to finance, construct and use the drug-smuggling tunnel discovered in Calexico six years ago.

Homeland Security Investigations agents discovered the tunnel at a warehouse in 2011.

Mujica says in his plea agreement that he intended to run a business called Baja Bikes as a front to conceal illegal activities.

He faces up to 40 years in prison and up to $750,000 in fines.