7 at INS Center Named in Drug Indictments

BROWNSVILLE, Tex. —  A six-month undercover investigation has led to federal drug indictments against nine people, including seven who worked at an Immigration and Naturalization Service center, authorities said Thursday.

The indictments, issued in McAllen, were ordered unsealed Thursday after seven arrests were made, Assistant U.S. Atty. John Crews said. An eighth person was arrested later Thursday, he said.

Seven of those indicted had worked either for the INS or a private security firm at the Port Isabel Service Processing Center, where illegal aliens are detained before deportation, authorities said.

The indictments allege that cocaine and marijuana were sold to someone working in cooperation with investigators, Crews said.

“The amounts of drugs are relatively small,” he said. “What makes it exceptionally significant, to us, however, is that the offenses are alleged to have occurred either at the service processing center or by individuals employed by the United States.”