CBP officer let drugs, migrants come across border for money, feds say

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) — A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer was arrested in El Paso on criminal charges related to his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to smuggle undocumented noncitizens for financial gain and alleged drug trafficking activity.

According to court documents, between on or about Dec. 21, 2023 and Feb. 5, 2025, Manuel Perez Jr., 32, of El Paso, allegedly smuggled and attempted to smuggle undocumented noncitizens into the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain.

The indictment alleges that, in multiple instances, Perez Jr. admitted a vehicle driven by an undocumented noncitizen at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry in El Paso as part of human smuggling operations.

Additionally, Perez Jr. allegedly conspired to possess a substance containing at least 5 kilograms of cocaine from on or about Nov. 1, 2019, through Feb. 5, 2025, to distribute throughout Texas, Louisiana, North Carolina and elsewhere.

Perez Jr. is charged with one count of conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States for financial gain, three counts of bringing aliens to the United States for financial gain, and one count of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

If convicted, he faces a up to five years in federal prison for the human smuggling conspiracy charge, three to 10 years in prison for each of the three additional human smuggling charges, and 10 years to life for the drug trafficking charge.

The FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General investigated the case. The agencies comprise the FBI El Paso West Texas Border Corruption Task Force.

CBP’s Office of Field Operations, the U.S. Border Patrol’s El Paso Sector, the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division, the Texas Highway Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division also assisted.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Johnston is prosecuting the case.

Federal officials at the highest levels said they are committed to keeping corruption out of law enforcement.

“To traffic drugs and smuggle humans while wearing the badge is not only a disgusting betrayal of our patriotic Customs and Border Protection agents, but of our nation and the American people. Manuel Perez will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.