A Total of 14 Law Enforcement Officers Including Twenty Individuals Apprehended in Mississippi Narcotics Corruption Operation
A group of 14 serving and previous police personnel are part of 20 defendants taken into custody in the states of Mississippi and Tennessee for taking illicit payments from narcotics dealers in to provide police protection, in what officials labeled "a monumental betrayal of the community's confidence".
These apprehensions come after a years-long probe by federal agents who posed as drug sellers. Among those charged were Mississippi sheriffs.
National authorities initiated the undercover operation after receiving complaints from actual narcotics criminals about being forced to provide corrupt payments to officers.
This corruption scheme allegedly extended beyond the Delta area of Mississippi into the city of Memphis in Tennessee, and Miami in Florida.
"Initial reports that started the inquiry were from drug dealers," a federal prosecutor announced during a news conference on the day of the announcement.
Certain law enforcement members had accepted bribes ranging from $20,000 (£15,000) and $37,000, the prosecutor added.
The sting involved undercover federal agents acting as narcotics sellers with simulated drugs, which the accused individuals reportedly thought to be 25kg (55lb) of cocaine.
"They betrayed the public," declared a senior FBI official. "They betrayed the confidence that the public had in them, shamed the uniform and weakened the efforts of honest police members across this state and region."
These detentions occur as U.S. officials have embarked on aerial attacks in South America against suspected narcotics criminals.
