Border Bribery Corruption Scheme Leads to Sentencing of El Paso CBP Officer

A corrupt U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer named Omar Moreno was sentenced to over four years in prison for accepting bribes to allow undocumented migrants to cross the border at an El Paso international bridge. The smuggling group paid Moreno $4,000 for each person he allowed to cross illegally. Moreno was arrested in an undercover sting operation where he accepted $8,000 in exchange for allowing two undercover officers posing as migrants to enter the U.S. Through surveillance and informant information, it was revealed that Moreno had been involved in smuggling around 30 people into the country, earning as much as $120,000 from the illegal activity. Moreno pleaded guilty to bribery of a public official and bringing in noncitizens for financial gain. The investigation began after migrants reported paying a corrupt CBP officer to allow them entry without inspection. Another El Paso CBP officer, Manuel Perez Jr., was also arrested for similar allegations involving the La Linea drug cartel. This case highlights the issue of human smuggling, corruption, and undercover operations within U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The FBI, CBP Office of Professional Responsibility, and Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General were involved in the investigation that led to Moreno’s arrest and subsequent sentencing.