A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, Manuel Perez Jr., was arrested in El Paso on charges tied to a conspiracy involving human smuggling and drug trafficking. Perez, aged 32, is accused of smuggling undocumented noncitizens into the U.S. for financial gain. The indictment also claims he was involved in trafficking cocaine, intending to distribute it across Texas, Louisiana, and North Carolina.
Perez allegedly participated in several instances of human smuggling at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry. He is facing multiple charges, including conspiracy to bring aliens to the U.S. for profit, as well as drug trafficking charges. If convicted, Perez could face up to life in prison.
The FBI office in El Paso released a statement confirming the arrest and highlighting the seriousness of the allegations.
