CBP officer accused of taking bribes to permit drug smugglers into U.S.

A Customs and Border Protection officer was indicted Monday on fees of taking bribes to permit medication to be smuggled throughout the southern border.

Leonard George requested for and acquired unspecified “items of value” from drug traffickers, the Office for the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California mentioned in a information launch.

Mr. George is accused of coordinating with fellow defendants Mario Gutierrez, Esteban Galvan and 4 unnamed others the smuggling of heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine from Mexico.

Mr. George faces fees of receiving bribes, conspiracy to import and conspiracy to distribute managed substances, and possessing a gun to hold out drug trafficking.

Mr. Galvan and the 4 unnamed defendants every face a rely of conspiracy to import and conspiracy to distribute managed substances.