A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer accused of smuggling migrants at the El Paso, Texas, border was allegedly a member of a Mexican drug cartel, a federal agent testified Thursday, El Paso Times reported.

Manuel Perez Jr., 32, was arrested Feb. 8 on federal human and drug smuggling charges following an investigation by the FBI El Paso West Texas Border Corruption Task Force.

A federal magistrate judge ordered Perez to remain jailed without bond at a hearing in Downtown El Paso.

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