Former US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Role in Massive Drug Trafficking Scheme
A former CBP officer, Diego Bonillo, has been handed a 15-year prison sentence for his involvement in a massive drug trafficking scheme that saw him allow smugglers to transport vehicles filled with drugs into the US through the southern border. The sentencing comes after Bonillo admitted to working for a Mexico-based organization and accepting payment from them in exchange for allowing them to bring large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin into the country.
According to investigators, Bonillo allowed at least 75 kilograms of fentanyl, 11.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, and over one kilogram of heroin to enter the US without inspection between October 2023 and April 2024. He also used a second phone to communicate with smugglers, providing them with information on lane assignments and timing to ensure their vehicles could pass through undetected.
The scheme saw Bonillo using his position to line his own pockets, spending the money he received from the traffickers on luxury items, international travel, and even attempting to purchase property in Mexico. His actions have been described as "betraying the public trust" by US Attorney Adam Gordon, who said that corruption like this would be met with the full force of the law.
The FBI's San Diego Field Office has also condemned Bonillo's actions, calling them "dishonorable behavior" that betrays the values and standards expected of a federal law enforcement officer. Mark Dargis, special agent in charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office, said that Bonillo's conduct is "contradictory to the oath he swore to protect the American people" and that he will be held accountable for his actions.
The sentencing serves as a warning to those who would seek to exploit their position for personal gain, and it highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat corruption and trafficking at the US-Mexico border.
A former CBP officer, Diego Bonillo, has been handed a 15-year prison sentence for his involvement in a massive drug trafficking scheme that saw him allow smugglers to transport vehicles filled with drugs into the US through the southern border. The sentencing comes after Bonillo admitted to working for a Mexico-based organization and accepting payment from them in exchange for allowing them to bring large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin into the country.
According to investigators, Bonillo allowed at least 75 kilograms of fentanyl, 11.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, and over one kilogram of heroin to enter the US without inspection between October 2023 and April 2024. He also used a second phone to communicate with smugglers, providing them with information on lane assignments and timing to ensure their vehicles could pass through undetected.
The scheme saw Bonillo using his position to line his own pockets, spending the money he received from the traffickers on luxury items, international travel, and even attempting to purchase property in Mexico. His actions have been described as "betraying the public trust" by US Attorney Adam Gordon, who said that corruption like this would be met with the full force of the law.
The FBI's San Diego Field Office has also condemned Bonillo's actions, calling them "dishonorable behavior" that betrays the values and standards expected of a federal law enforcement officer. Mark Dargis, special agent in charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office, said that Bonillo's conduct is "contradictory to the oath he swore to protect the American people" and that he will be held accountable for his actions.
The sentencing serves as a warning to those who would seek to exploit their position for personal gain, and it highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat corruption and trafficking at the US-Mexico border.