Federal prosecutors allege that two U.S. Customs and Border Protection Field Operations agents worked with an unnamed drug cartel for years, allegedly allowing the gang to move large amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin through inspection lanes, according to court documents.
Jesse Clark Garcia and Diego Bonillo are two CBP officers indicted by the Southern District of California on charges of drug trafficking and conspiracy to traffic in drugs, and both have been in custody since May. Alex Riggins was the first Reported From the case San Diego Union-Tribune.
The two officers allegedly worked with Mexican smugglers to allow certain drug-laden vehicles through their inspection lanes. Prosecutors allege they allowed the smugglers through in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in bribes. Details cited in Riggins' article show CBP officers spending thousands of dollars on luxury fashion items, trips to Europe, and seats to expensive boxing matches in Las Vegas.
According to the indictment, in April 2021, a woman drove a Kia Soul into Garcia's lane at the Tecate Port of Entry. There were several vehicles in front of the woman when the lane opened. CBP officers escorted her into the lane, where authorities found 140 pounds of cocaine and fentanyl and 25 pounds of methamphetamine. As part of the investigation, authorities determined that the woman frequently crossed Garcia's lane, but not when Garcia was off duty. Court documents list several other crossings that appear to indicate both Garcia and Bonillo were cooperating with smugglers to allow them through inspection lanes.
Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist at Breitbart Texas. He co-founded Breitbart Texas' Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and senior Breitbart management. Twitter and FacebookContact details: email address.
