Border Patrol agent,David Duque Junior, has been arrested in the US in a public corruption scandal concerning the importation of illicit narcotics.
The FBI are alleging that Duque knowingly assisted smuglers in their smuggling operation and provided identification for them to use. In addition, it is alleged that he also assisted a vehicle which was being used for smuggling to pass through a US-Mexican checkpoint at Falfurrias.
Duque was paid $5000 for his services by the smugglers according to the allegations of the FBI.
He has been freed on a $50,000 bond but if convicted of the offences, faces a striff penalty of 15 years and a $250,000 fine for his involvement.
The alleged corruption of this border guard also raises a lot of questions for US authorities. With the war on terror and the concerns in the US about border protection, the ability of drug smugglers to supposedly bribe a border guard must have alarm bells ringing.
The extent of corruption within the boarder guard of the US is something that will also no doubt be raised in the conext of this case.
While David Duque Junior may be only small fry he may have opened a large can or worms.