Post by : Rameen Ariff

Jackson, Mississippi — Fourteen current and former law-enforcement officers are among 20 individuals charged in Mississippi and Tennessee for accepting bribes from drug traffickers, officials said Thursday, calling the scheme “a monumental betrayal of public trust.”

The arrests follow a multi-year federal investigation in which agents posed as narcotics dealers to expose the bribery network. Two of the defendants served as Mississippi sheriffs, highlighting the depth of corruption uncovered.

“The original complaints that began the investigation were from drug dealers,” said US Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi. Officials revealed that some officers received bribes ranging from $20,000 to $37,000 for providing police protection to criminal operations.

The alleged network spanned beyond the Mississippi Delta, reaching Memphis, Tennessee, and even Miami, Florida. Undercover agents used fake narcotics, which the defendants believed were 25 kilograms (55 lbs) of cocaine, to gather evidence of the corrupt scheme.

FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey condemned the accused officers, saying, “They sold out the public. They betrayed the trust that the public placed in them, disgraced the badge, and undermined the hard work of good law enforcement officers across this state and region.”

The arrests coincide with ongoing US air strikes in South America targeting alleged drug trafficking operations. Federal officials emphasized that the sting demonstrates a commitment to rooting out corruption and restoring integrity in law enforcement.

The defendants now face federal charges, and prosecutors have signaled that the investigation may continue as authorities examine whether more officers were involved.

#world news #Global News