Photo via Border Patrol.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

When Border Patrol agents found a man in scuba gear, they knew something odd was afoot.

Turns out, the man was smuggling drugs through a tunnel that was partially underwater at the end of the All-American Canal, about 7 miles east of Calexico, Calif., The Associated Press reports.

Near the man was a breathing tank and several vacuum-sealed packages containing 55 pounds of cocaine.

The April 25 discovery unearthed a 150-foot-long tunnel that stretched from the canal to a house in Mexicali, Mexico.

“Drug smugglers will try anything to move their product — even scuba diving in an underwater tunnel,” U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy said in a statement. “The ingenuity of the smugglers is matched only by our determination to thwart it.”

Adam Cohen/FBI

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Adam S. Cohen, an 18-year veteran of the FBI with expertise in terrorism, is taking over the bureau’s Buffalo office.

Cohen will replace Special Agent in Charge Brian P. Boetig, who will be working outside of the country, the Buffalo News reports. 

Cohen takes the helm in October, FBI Director James Comey announced Thursday.

Cohen began his career with the bureau in the New York City office, dealing with international terrorism cases. Most recently, he served as section chief of the bureau’s Counterterrorism Internet Operations Section.

Cohen graduated from Brandeis University with a bachelor of arts degree in American studies and Dowling College, where he earned a master’s degree in business administration.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

A DEA agent was off duty getting his car worked on when he saw a suspicious encounter.

Ricky Nuckles, 41, parked his car at a gas station, where another car pulled up, and a man placed a large suitcase in the back of Nuckles’ car before driving off, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

Suspicious, the agent confronted Nuckles, who ran into the store and ditched his cell phone.

The agent spotted a firearm in the driver’s seat and called 911.

As police and more agents arrived, they found cocaine worth $750,000 and a handgun after Nuckles agreed to a search.

“Thanks to a vigilant off-duty DEA agent, 22 kilograms of cocaine is off the streets, and Nuckles’ drug-trafficking days are finished,” U.S. attorney John Horn said.

Nuckles was sentenced Thursday to 17 years and 7 months in prison.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Travelers can now report TSA agents who are abusive or rude.

CNN reports that Yelp, known for restaurant and business reviews, has reached an agreement with the federal government to allow the TSA to respond to reviews.

While travelers have always had the ability to leave comments about TSA agents, there was never a single page or official place to launch those complaints. Now there is.

The idea is to hold government employees more accountable.

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• FBI Sees ‘Exponential’ Rise of Child Pornography Worldwide
• Border Patrol Agents Arrest Mexican Resident Wanted for Rape
• Watch Full Interview With Woman Who Notified FBI of Subway’s Fogle