BORDER BRIBERY CASES WORRY US OFFICIALS

SAN DIEGO - Federal law enforcement officials are investigating a
series of bribery and smuggling cases in what they fear is a sign of
increased corruption among officers who patrol the Mexican border. Two
brothers who worked for the U.S. Border Patrol disappeared in June
while under investigation for smuggling drugs and immigrants, and are
believed to have fled to Mexico. In the past month, two agents from
Customs and Border Protection, which guards border checkpoints, were
indicted for taking bribes to allow illegal immigrants to enter the
United States. And this month, two Border Patrol supervisory agents
pleaded guilty to accepting nearly $200,000 in payoffs to release detainees.

Authorities say two trends are at work: The massive buildup of Border
Patrol agents in recent years has led to worries that hiring standards
have been lowered; and, smugglers are intensifying efforts to bribe
those guarding the border.