HELENA-WEST HELENA, Ark. – Five police officers who allegedly guarded drug shipments are among 70 people indicted in a sweeping federal investigation into corruption and drug trafficking in eastern Arkansas.
The FBI says the focus of the investigation was corrupt law officers dealing with convicted felons who, in some cases, were convicted murderers.
Valerie Parlave, special agent in charge of the FBI's Little Rock office, said Tuesday the investigation involved officers who are accused of accepting bribes to watch over shipments of cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine that moved across state lines.
U.S. Attorney Christopher Thyer says 51 people were arrested during a sweep that involved 800 state and federal law enforcement officers. Five suspects already were in jail and 14 were still being sought as of Tuesday afternoon.
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