Increased law enforcement along the U.S. border with Mexico is aiding efforts to combat drug smuggling as well as illegal immigration.

Recently federal agents in California uncovered the latest of 56 cross-border tunnels found in the Southwest since the government increased the number of border guards and added fencing, The New York Times reported Friday.

The newest tunnel, discovered Dec. 3 in Tecante, Calif., is believed to have been constructed as a major route for smuggling drugs from Mexico.

The newspaper says the tunnel, 50 feet below ground, bears signs of engineering skill and professional drilling tools.

The 1,300 ft.-long tunnel was carved through solid rock. Compact fluorescent bulbs wired to the Mexican side of the border provide light while two pumps keep the tunnel dry.

Shrink-wrapped bundles of marijuana worth $5.6 million on the street were found at the end of the tunnel in a shipping container, indicating that it was intended to serve as a major smuggling corridor.

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