There is a reason why Breaking Bad was so addictive. Sustaining a border-crossing drug trade requires ceaseless ingenuity to evade authorities. Subverting US border walls and patrol eyes, Mexican drug cartels are estimated to earn $19 billion to $29 billion every year from sales across the fence. And they aren’t just throwing the stuff over volleyball-style. Since 1990, authorities have discovered almost 170 tunnels used for smuggling drugs and guns (and occasionally, people) across the US-Mexico border, ranging from the rickety, through to some true feats of engineering. Construction of the border fence between the US and Mexico between Naco and Douglas, Arizona. April 2008. Photo: From "Confrontier" by Kai Wiedenhöfer published by Steidl via Wired. A cross-border drug smuggling tunnel discovered inside a warehouse near San Diego. Photo by Ron Rogers Although some of the tunnels are fairly basic, many have allegedly involved the input of professional miners, whose expertise is required to precisely connect entrances linking to houses or warehouses. Seeing as GPS-tracking doesn’t work underground, the workers rely on more basic tools. Compasses guide people wielding equipment like hoes, jackhammers, shovels, and picks. Infographic by ...
There is a reason why Breaking Bad was so addictive. Sustaining a border-crossing drug trade requires ceaseless ingenuity to evade authorities. Subverting US border walls and patrol eyes, Mexican drug cartels are estimated to earn $19 billion to $29 billion every year from sales across the fence. And they aren’t just throwing the stuff over volleyball-style. Since 1990, authorities have discovered almost 170 tunnels used for smuggling drugs and guns (and occasionally, people) across the US-Mexico border, ranging from the rickety, through to some true feats of engineering. Construction of the border fence between the US and Mexico between Naco and Douglas, Arizona. April 2008. Photo: From "Confrontier" by Kai Wiedenhöfer published by Steidl via Wired. A cross-border drug smuggling tunnel discovered inside a warehouse near San Diego. Photo by Ron Rogers Although some of the tunnels are fairly basic, many have allegedly involved the input of professional miners, whose expertise is required to precisely connect entrances linking to houses or warehouses. Seeing as GPS-tracking doesn’t work underground, the workers rely on more basic tools. Compasses guide people wielding equipment like hoes, jackhammers, shovels, and picks. Infographic by ...