In a shocking revelation of systemic corruption, 20 individuals, including 14 current and former law enforcement officers, have been charged in Mississippi and Tennessee for allegedly accepting bribes from drug traffickers in exchange for police protection. This scandal, described by officials as a ‘monumental betrayal of public trust,’ stems from a multi-year undercover operation led by federal agents posing as narcotics dealers. Among the accused are two Mississippi sheriffs, highlighting the depth of the corruption. The investigation was initiated after federal officials received complaints from actual drug traffickers about being forced to pay bribes to officers. The bribery network reportedly extended beyond the Mississippi Delta region into Memphis, Tennessee, and Miami, Florida. US Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi disclosed that some officers had accepted bribes ranging from $20,000 to $37,000. The sting operation involved undercover agents presenting fake narcotics, which the defendants allegedly believed to be 25kg of cocaine. FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey condemned the accused officers, stating they had ‘sold out the public’ and disgraced the badge, undermining the integrity of law enforcement across the region. This crackdown coincides with broader US efforts to combat drug trafficking, including recent air strikes in South America targeting alleged narcotics operations.
Fourteen police officers among 20 arrested in Mississippi drug bribery sting
