Former CBP officer sentenced to 15 years for allowing drug-filled vehicles into the US

A former US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer who let vehicles carrying drugs enter the country without inspection has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Diego Bonillo admitted in his plea agreement that he worked with a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization and accepted payments to use his position at CBP to allow drug-filled vehicles to cross from Mexico into the United States without being checked. He acknowledged allowing at least 75 kilograms of fentanyl, 11.7 kilograms of methamphetamine, and more than 1 kilogram of heroin through the port of entry.

Investigators found that Bonillo used a second phone unknown to law enforcement to send his lane assignments to members of the trafficking group so they would know where he was stationed and when to send smugglers through. His role began no later than October 2023 and continued until April 2024, during which he allowed at least 15 vehicles to pass uninspected.

“This sentence holds Bonillo accountable for betraying the public trust,” said US Attorney Adam Gordon. “He weaponized his badge for personal profit, funneling deadly narcotics through a port of entry and putting communities at risk. Corruption like this will be met with the full force of the law — and we will not hesitate to pursue and punish those who trade duty for dollars.”

Mark Dargis, Special Agent in Charge of FBI San Diego Field Office, added in a statement that Bonillo had “disgraced the badge and violated his oath to protect the American people. This conduct betrays the public’s trust and is contradictory to the values and standards expected of a federal law enforcement officer.”

“FBI San Diego and our partners will not tolerate such dishonorable behavior. This sentence reflects the FBI’s commitment to hold accountable anyone who corrupts their role at the expense of our citizens’ safety,” Dargis added.