California border patrol agents made a startling discovery over the weekend when they found a crude tunnel that was being used to smuggle Chinese nationals and other illegal immigrants from Mexico into the U.S. Those who were detained were taken to the border patrol station in Chula Vista to be questioned, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. The Union-Tribune reported in June that the number of unauthorized Chinese immigrants coming to San Diego has skyrocketed in recent years. Border Patrol agents in the San Diego sector apprehended an estimated 663 Chinese nationals between October and May, compared with 48 Chinese nationals last fiscal year, five in fiscal 2014 and eight in fiscal 2013, the paper reported. A Border Patrol spokeswoman told the paper that criminal organizations involved in smuggling maximize their profits by transporting Chinese immigrants, often charging anywhere from $50,000 to $70,000 per person.

Source: Fox News August 27, 2017 17:43 UTC