Spotlight
 Department of Homeland Security 

Office of Inspector General September 2012 OIG-12-132

Why This Matters 

Illicit cross-border tunnels along

the southwest border of the United

States represent a significant threat

to border security. Tunnels are

primarily used to smuggle illegal

drugs into the U.S. Criminals also

attempt to use cross-border tunnels

to smuggle contraband, currency,

and weapons.

Locating and eliminating the

tunnels is an important part of

DHS' effort to disrupt the criminal

organizations that engage in

cross-border smuggling. Without

the technological capability to

routinely and accurately identify

tunnels, some may go undetected,

providing an unchecked means for

cross-border smuggling and

unlawful entrance into the U.S.

DHS Response 

The Department and CBP

concurred with three of the

recommendations, and did not

provide sufficient detail for

concurrence or non-concurrence

with one recommendation.

Smugglers and other cross-border

criminal organizations use a wide

range of ever-evolving methods to

attempt to move their contraband

into the United States. In response,

CBP has modified its operations to

better detect and respond to threats

posed by the different types of

illicit cross-border tunnels.

DHS stated that it is committed to

providing its frontline agents and

the officers with the tools they need

to effectively achieve their mission

of securing America's borders and

facilitating the movement of

legitimate travel and trade.

For Further Information:

Contact our Office of Public Affairs at

(202)254-4100, or email us at

DHS-OIG.OfficePublicAffairs@oig.dhs.gov

CBP’s Strategy to Address Illicit

Cross-Border Tunnels

What We Determined 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) detects and remediates cross-border tunnels as

part of its overall border security mission. However, it currently does not have the

technological capability to routinely and accurately detect tunnels. Consequently, criminals

may continue to build cross-border tunnels undetected. CBP has stated that it can best

address this capability gap through the acquisition of tunnel detection technology.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), a directorate of Immigration Customs Enforcement,

also has tunnel-related responsibilities. HSI locates tunnels using intelligence derived from

its criminal investigations, and assists in the prosecution of the criminals involved.

CBP is creating a program to address tunnel-related capability gaps, including the need for

effective tunnel detection technology. To ensure that it does not hinder HSI’s investigative

efforts, the program must address the mission needs of both HSI and CBP. However, the

program has not matured to a point where it demonstrates how it will do so. Additionally,

DHS has ultimate responsibility for approving CBP’s acquisition program, as well as

allocating resources and making decisions to counter the tunnel threat. Therefore, it must

ensure that the program addresses both components’ needs.

What We Recommend 

The Chief, Office of Border Patrol:

1) Conduct the planned study of how CBP can address tunnel detection capabilities through

existing processes and procedures in support of the Analysis of Alternatives for the Tunnel

Detection and Technology Program.

2) Complete the planned Concept of Operations document describing how the identified

capabilities need to function from a cross-component perspective to support the Analysis of

Alternatives for the Tunnel Detection and Technology Program.

Deputy Under Secretary for Management:

3) Provide oversight to ensure that CBP identifies and considers key operational

dependencies, relationships, and corresponding program risks for CBP’s Tunnel Detection

and Technology Program efforts prior to approving the program.

4) Designate an authority to provide leadership and strategy for, and coordinate, the DHS

counter-tunnel efforts. This authority should have the information and ability to make

strategic decisions on counter-tunnel policies and procedures across DHS components.