Former Border Protection Agent Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Allowing Drug-Smuggling Cars Into The U.S.

A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for letting cars filled with methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl into the U.S.

Border Report detailed that Diego Bonillo admitted to working for a Mexico-based cartel and letting the cars through the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

Agents found out that the then-agent told smugglers which lanes he was assigned to so they would enter the country through them. He allowed at least 15 cars into the U.S., and used the benefits to travel, buy luxury items and buy property in Mexico.

"He weaponized his badge for personal profit, funneling deadly narcotics through a port of entry and putting communities at risk. Corruption like this will be met with the full force of the law — and we will not hesitate to pursue and punish those who trade duty for dollars," said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.

It is not the first time such a case has taken place. Last month, another former CBP agent was slapped with several charges, including bribery, human smuggling and drug-trafficking.

Concretely, Manuel Perez of El Paso admitted taking part in several conspiracies that spanned several years. The main ones involved human smuggling and the trafficking of "large quantities of cocaine."

Border Report detailed that Perez entered a guilty plea in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Court documents show the then-agent began his involvement in the conspiracies in November 2019 and continued until February this year.

Throughout the years, he used his post to allow the entry of vehicles driven by undocumented migrants who often were part of smuggling operations.

Perez was charged with "conspiracy to bring aliens into the United States for financial gain," "bringing aliens into the U.S. for financial gain," and "conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute." He faces up to 45 years in prison.

In April, two officers were charged with accepting bribes to allow undocumented migrants to enter the United States without inspection at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, one of the nation's busiest border crossings.

Farlis Almonte and Ricardo Rodriguez, both assigned to immigration inspection booths, were arrested following an investigation into their involvement with human traffickers. The charges came after investigators uncovered phone evidence showing the officers exchanged messages with smugglers in Mexico, and discovered unusual deposits into their bank accounts.

According to federal prosecutors, the officers were paid thousands of dollars to wave through dozens of vehicles carrying undocumented migrants, as The Associated Press reports. Surveillance footage revealed at least one instance where a vehicle stopped at a checkpoint had only the driver documented as entering the country, while a passenger went unreported.