FBI Sting in Puerto Rico Nets 89 Law Enforcement Officers

FBI San Juan Command Post was active Wednesday/fbi photo
FBI San Juan Command Post was active Wednesday/fbi photo
By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com

An FBI drug sting resulted in the indictment of 133 people in Puerto Rico including 89 law enforcement officers in the biggest crack down on police corruption in FBI history, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.

The Justice Department said those indicted included 61 Puerto Rico Police Department Officers, 16 Municipal Officers, 12 Corrections Officers, one administrative examiner, one Social Security Administration employee, three Puerto Rico National Guard soldiers, two U.S. Army Officers, seven former law enforcement officers, and 30 civilians.

Authorities said the defendants provided security during undercover drug deals in exchange for payments ranging from $500 to $4,500 per transaction – more than half a million dollars in all.

The multiple indictments were the result of 125 undercover drug transactions FBI agents conducted in Puerto Rico from July 2008 until September 2010.

About 750 FBI agents and personnel were flown in to Puerto Rico from across the country to assist in the arrests Wednesday, and in all, about 1,000 FBI employees participated in the arrests, authorities said.

The multiple indictments included charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking offense.

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