A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, Manuel Perez Jr., has been arrested in El Paso, Texas, on charges of human smuggling and drug trafficking.
Federal authorities allege that Perez conspired to bring undocumented individuals into the United States for financial gain and was also involved in narcotics distribution.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Perez faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to smuggle migrants and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. If convicted, he could serve up to five years in prison for the conspiracy charge, three to ten years for each smuggling offense, and up to life in prison for the drug trafficking charge.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem condemned the alleged crimes, calling them a “betrayal of the oath this officer took to protect our nation.”
She emphasized that the Department of Homeland Security would not tolerate corruption within its ranks and vowed to hold those responsible accountable. […]
— Read More: dallasexpress.com
