On August 13, a 600-foot long drug tunnel that connects an Arizona Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant to a private home in Mexico was discovered after law enforcement officials conducted a routine traffic stop.

According to court documents, it all began in the border town of San Luis when cops became suspicious of a man, Ivan Lopez, operating a trailer near the now-abandoned KFC building. Authorities stopped the Ivan Lopez due to an equipment violation. A canine unit alerted the authorities to the presence of narcotics and upon search of the trailer they discovered 239 packages of illicit substances valued at over $1 million.

The law enforcement agents attained a search warrant for the defunct KFC restaurant and what they found was a well-constructed tunnel that lead across the border into the bedroom of an unidentified Mexico citizen. Allegedly, Lopez had established a transnational drug smuggling operation in this quiet border town.

Documents show Lopez purchased the property earlier this year. He did not operate the KFC restaurant, which was closed years before him purchasing the property. Authorities note that the tunnel’s sophistication implies the work of multiple people in Arizona and across the border in the connected Mexico town of San Luis Rio Colorado.

Lopez was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Authorities said it is unclear how long the tunnel has been in operation, but all business has ceased since Lopez’s arrest.

Currently, Yuma Border Patrol and Homeland Security agents are investigating this incident further. They seek to contact and work with officials in Mexico to uncover this smuggling operation and the alleged actors involved.