CBP officer arrested for allowing drugs through Port of Entry in Texas

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer working at the Brownsville Port of Entry was charged Dec. 15 with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1000 kilograms of marijuana and bribery of a public official, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.

The investigation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) along with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Jose Luis Zavala, 38, from Brownsville, Texas, was arrested at his residence Dec. 12 without incident. Zavala appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald Morgan Dec. 15 and was formally charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1000 kilograms of marijuana and bribery of a public official. Zavala has been employed for the past seven years as a CBP officer assigned to the Brownsville field of operations.

According to court documents, Zavala allowed vehicles loaded with marijuana to enter the United States from Mexico in exchange for money. On Nov. 19, Zavala was working the Gateway Port of Entry when a van attempted to enter the United States through the inspection lane manned by Zavala, according to the complaint. The driver presented a U.S. Passport and the van was randomly selected for an intensive inspection, a decision not made or controlled by Zavala. The driver then allegedly abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot to Mexico. The van was carrying 1,362 kilograms of marijuana that was not hidden or disguised as legitimate cargo, according to the allegations.

The investigation led to the discovery of text messages sent to Zavala’s personal cell phone that allegedly show the coordination of payment to Zavala for allowing shipments of marijuana to enter the country.

If convicted, Zavala faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison for the drug conspiracy as well as a maximum of 15 years for bribery.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Hagen, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence; a defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.