Two U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials have been accused of taking bribes, allowing people to enter the country without displaying documents at the United States’ busiest border crossing point.
CBP officials Farlis Almonte and Ricardo Rodriguez work at the port of entry in San Isidro, prosecutors say they get dozens of vehicles they carry Illegal immigration passes There are no proper checks in exchange for thousands of dollars.
Investigators found phone messages between officials in Mexico and human smugglers, according to unsealed court documents on Thursday. They also found a large number of unexplained cash deposits in official bank accounts.
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In one case, captured in surveillance video, a car stopped at a checkpoint with two people, but only the driver was officially recorded Enter the United StatesThe prosecutor said.
Checkpoint before crossing the United States at San Isidro port of entry in Tijuana, Mexico (Francisco Vega/Getty Images)
When Almonte was arrested, investigators also allegedly seized nearly $70,000 in cash, which they believed was a attempt by his girlfriend Go to Tijuana. Prosecutors said he could face more charges, including money laundering and attempts to hide evidence, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.
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“Any customs and border protection brokers that help smugglers are breaking the oath and putting our national security at risk,” said Andrew Haden, an acting U.S. attorney.
Vehicles line up at the San Isidro transit port in Tijuana, Baja, Mexico. (Guillermo Arias/AFP via Getty Images)
Rodriguez’s attorney Michael Hawkins said the case was still in its early stages and reminded the public that Rodriguez was considered innocent. “We look forward to resolving the current situation,” Hawkins said.
It is not clear whether Almonte has a lawyer. Five CBP officials in the San Diego area have faced similar corruption charges over the past two years.
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The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), which represents CBP officials, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
