Fourteen Police Officers Including 20 Arrested in Mississippi Drug Bribery Sting
A group of 14 serving and previous law-enforcement officers are part of 20 defendants arrested in the states of Mississippi and Tennessee for accepting bribes from narcotics dealers in exchange for police protection, in what officials labeled "a monumental betrayal of public trust".
These apprehensions come after a multi-year probe by national law enforcement who acted as drug sellers. Among those charged were Mississippi sheriffs.
National authorities initiated the sting after hearing reports from real narcotics criminals about being forced to provide bribes to police members.
The bribery network allegedly extended outside the Delta area of Mississippi into Memphis, Tennessee, and Miami in Florida.
"Initial reports that started the inquiry were from drug dealers," a U.S. attorney announced during a news conference on Thursday.
Certain law enforcement members had received bribes between $20,000 (£15,000) and $37,000, the legal official added.
This operation utilized undercover federal agents posing as narcotics sellers with simulated drugs, which the accused individuals reportedly thought to be 25kg (55lb) of cocaine.
"They sold out the public," stated a senior FBI official. "They violated the confidence that the public had in them, disgraced the badge and undermined the efforts of honest police members across this area and locality."
These detentions take place as American authorities have begun aerial attacks in South America against suspected narcotics criminals.
