271: Anthony Velazquez – Miami Police and Customs Inspector Corruption

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Retired agent Anthony “Tony” Velazquez served in the FBI for 24 years.

In this episode, Tony reviews a police corruption case involving three anti-drug police officers and a US Customs inspector who used their law enforcement water positions to steal drugs and cash from drug traffickers operating along Miami area smuggling routes.

During a 1996 undercover operation, officers from the Hallandale Police Department in Florida accepted bribes to protect undercover agents who posed as drug traffickers. The Customs inspector accepted bribes to facilitate official customs clearances. All four defendants pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy and extortion charges.

During his Bureau career, Tony was assigned to the Miami Division, where he specialized in cargo theft and supply chain security, organized and violent crime, counterterrorism, fraud, undercover operations, and kidnapping investigations.

He also a hostage/crisis negotiator, certified undercover agent (UCA), and certified adjunct police instructor who taught courses in Interview and Interrogation, Undercover Operations, Cargo Theft, Informant Development, Enterprise Theory of Investigation, and Gang/Organized Crime investigations throughout the United States and abroad.

Tony served as the FBI Assistant Legal Attaché (ALAT) in Cape Town, South Africa, from 2007 through 2011, covering over 16 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Tony provided security and crisis management leadership for several world special events including the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil and was instrumental in establishing intelligence collection platforms during the FIFA World Cups in South Africa and Brazil.

Tony has extensive experience in Central/South America supporting complex investigations, crisis management, and kidnapping response, to include the 2001 rescue of a five-year-old girl kidnapped in Haiti, the kidnapping of a U.S. Diplomat in Guyana, and the murder of a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Lesotho.

Tony is President of Velazquez Global Consulting Group (VGCG) where he provides consulting, crisis management/response, and security/investigative services.

Special Agent (Retired)

Anthony Velazquez

1991 – 2015

“Two or three of the police officers towed a car that was supposed to have drug proceeds, $44K. Money we planted. They took the money and split it amongst themselves.”—Retired Agent Tony Velazquez

The following are links to articles about this Miami US Customs Inspector and police corruption case:

AP NEWS – 6/10/1997: Anti-drug officers, Customs inspector plead guilty to corruption

Tampa Bay Times – 10/28/1997: Former Law Officials Sentenced to Prison

South Florida Sun-Sentinel May 16, 1997: CUSTOMS AGENTS, COPS CHARGED

Listen to more case reviews about investo police and customs inspector corruption here:

Episode 138: Ray Morrow and Dan Estrem – Cleveland Police Corruption, Undercover Sting (Part 1)

Episode 139: Ray Morrow and Dan Estrem – Cleveland Police Corruption, Undercover Sting (Part 2)

Episode 092: Stewart Fillmore – Tenaha, Texas Corruption Cover-Up

Episode 072: Juan Jackson – Corrupt Cops, Operation Shattered Shield (Part 1)

Episode 073: Juan Jackson – Corrupt Cops, Operation Shattered Shield (Part 2)

Episode 020: Harry Garcia – Corrupt Inspectors at the Calexico Border