2 U.S. OFFICERS ARRESTED ON DRUG-RELATED CHARGES

A former U.S. Customs Service supervisor and a U.S. Border Patrol agent,
both of whom worked in El Paso, were arrested on drug-related charges that
were disclosed Tuesday by federal authorities.

Ramon F. Torrez, 49, a customs supervisor until last year, was charged with
one count of agreeing to and accepting a bribe of about $80,000 from an
informant.

Juan Martinez, 32, a Border Patrol agent, was charged separately with
conspiracy to obstruct the work of the U.S. Customs Service and Border
Patrol in conducting drug investigations and in the deporting of
undocumented immigrants.

FBI Special Agent Al Cruz said the arrests resulted from a joint
investigation by the FBI and U.S. Customs Service Office of Internal
Affairs, with help from the Border Patrol, the El Paso Police Department
and the El Paso County Sheriff's Department. Trial attorneys with the
Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington,
D.C., are handling the case.

Cruz said that according to a criminal complaint, Torrez accepted the bribe
in 1999 "in exchange for using his position to assist the informant in
importing approximately 2 tons of marijuana from Mexico into the United
States."

Torrez, who was arrested Tuesday, worked for the U.S. Customs Service for
almost 20 years before he resigned in March 2000 during the investigation.
If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of
$250,000. He was arrested Monday night.

Cruz said Martinez is accused of helping "other law enforcement agents and
certain informants in importing approximately 8 tons of marijuana from
Mexico, avoiding seizure by customs or the Border Patrol."

Martinez allegedly also helped an informant get back a seized vehicle that
was used to smuggle marijuana, and helped release undocumented immigrants,
marijuana and a vehicle that other Border Patrol agents had detained.

Martinez was a police officer in Pharr, Texas, before he became a Border
Patrol agent in 1995. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and
a maximum fine of $250,000.