Man pleads guilty to drug tunnel charges

SAN DIEGO — A 35-year-old Calexico resident pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to charges related to the discovery in August 2011 of an incomplete drug-smuggling tunnel in Calexico, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported.

In his plea agreement, Habib Sayb Mujica admitted to conspiracy to construct, finance and use an unfinished tunnel to smuggle controlled substances, a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California stated.

Mujica acknowledged in his plea agreement that he instructed co-conspirator Ricardo Rosales-Rafael to rent a large Calexico warehouse located on West Second Street with drug proceeds, the press release stated.

Mujica further admitted that approximately $340,172 in cash was deposited into bank accounts to facilitate the rental of the Calexico warehouse and to rent various machines and tools to construct the tunnel’s exit point for the purpose of smuggling narcotics, the press release stated.

The unfinished tunnel and related drilling equipment had been discovered by Homeland Security Investigations agents at a warehouse at 361 W. Second St., in Calexico.

Mujica also admitted that he intended to operate a business known as Baja Bikes at the location in question, solely as a front to conceal the tunnel activities inside, the press release stated.

At the time of its discovery, the Calexico warehouse contained a horizontal directional drilling machine to initiate tunnel construction, as well as alignment tools, pipes, level tripod, jack hammer, drills, electric saws, forklift hydraulic lift, air compressors and tool boxes, the press release stated.

Rosales was arrested in September 2011 and accepted a plea agreement a year later in connection to one count of conspiracy to launder money. Upon his plea agreement, Rosales was released for time served and ordered to complete two years probation, federal court records stated.

Mujica had reportedly just finished serving nearly six years in a Mexican prison for firearms trafficking and was arrested in May by U.S. authorities following his expulsion from Mexico.

Mujica is scheduled to be sentenced for the tunnel-related crimes on November 27 at the U.S. District Court in San Diego. Mujica also faces federal gun charges related to his 2011 arrest for allegedly trafficking firearms into Mexico, the press release stated.

Mujica was indicted in August 2011 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for reportedly selling 33 AR-15 lower receivers in Mexico, according to a copy of the unsealed indictment.