Two U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, Jesse Clark Garcia and Diego Bonillo, are facing serious drug trafficking charges for their alleged involvement with a Mexican drug cartel. According to federal prosecutors, the officers facilitated the smuggling of significant quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamines, cocaine, and heroin through their inspection lanes at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The indictment, filed in the U.S. Southern District of California, accuses Garcia and Bonillo of using their positions to allow drug-laden vehicles to pass through their lanes in exchange for substantial bribes. The officers allegedly coordinated with smugglers to bypass normal inspection procedures. The case was first reported by Alex Riggins of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Prosecutors revealed that Garcia and Bonillo spent tens of thousands of dollars on luxury items, including high-end fashion, European vacations, and premium boxing seats in Las Vegas, suggesting that these purchases were funded by their illicit activities. The investigation into their conduct began after a significant drug bust in April 2021. A woman driving a Kia Soul through Garcia’s lane was found with 140 pounds of cocaine and fentanyl, and 25 pounds of methamphetamine. This incident, among others, indicated that Garcia and Bonillo were instrumental in allowing smugglers to pass through their lanes with minimal interference.
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For more details on this ongoing investigation, visit AllSides’ full report. The indictment highlights the critical issue of corruption within border enforcement agencies and its impact on drug trafficking operations.
