Skip navigation

Decorated agent reportedly held in drug bust

Immigrations officer suspected of distributing crystal meth, officials say

Video: Crime & courts  
Amanda Knox found guilty
Dec. 4: Msnbc’s Ed Schultz talks with criminal defense attorney Theodore Simon about the conviction of Amanda Knox for the murder of her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, in Italy.

Text alerts on msnbc.com

Breaking news alerts (about 1 per day)
Click here to sign up or text NEWS to MSNBC (67622).

Find more alerts at alerts.msnbc.com

updated 2:57 p.m. ET Nov. 19, 2008

WASHINGTON - Government officials say a decorated federal immigrations officer has been arrested on drug distribution charges.

The officials tell The Associated Press that Special Agent Kevin Merkel is accused in a secret indictment of possession and intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine. They spoke on condition of anonymity because charges have not been unsealed. It is not clear if Merkel has been cooperating with authorities since his arrest.

Merkel is a veteran officer who won the Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement — one of the highest honors bestowed on law enforcement personnel.

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

He was arrested by the FBI on Oct. 29 in the Washington, D.C. area. Immigration and Customs Enforcement declined to comment Wednesday, as did an FBI spokesman. ICE's Office of Professional Responsibility and the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general were part of the probe.

A Department of Justice Web site details a July 2000 ceremony in which Merkel was one of five officials honored with the attorney general's award for launching a "breakthrough" undercover operation into an illegal immigrant smuggling ring.

Click for related content

"The effort required initiative, ingenuity, and creativity to cope with the quickly changing tactics of alien smugglers and large-scale financial transactions," according to the government Web site.

In recent years, Merkel has worked on a major homeland security initiative called Secure Communities, working with local law enforcement agencies to deport illegal aliens in police custody.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sponsored LinksGet listed here
Online College Courses
Boost your career with an online Degree. Pick from Leading Colleges!
www.EarnMyDegree.com

Sponsored links

Resource guide