Texas deputy arrested on drug charge

Posted: May 25, 2012 9:54 AM PDT Updated: May 25, 2012 9:54 AM PDT

McALLEN, Texas (AP) - A federal judge in McAllen has ordered a South Texas sheriff's deputy held without bond for his alleged role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy.

Federal prosecutors say Duval County Sheriff's deputy Ruben Silva took $5,000 in payment and planned to smuggle cocaine in his sheriff's department vehicle from the Rio Grande Valley north through the Border Patrol inland checkpoint. He was arrested Thursday.

A Drug Enforcement Administration informant and undercover drug task force officers participated in the bust which included arrests of 2 others with whom Silva was allegedly conspiring.

A complaint filed in federal court suggests that another deputy could be involved, but the identities of 2 co-defendants remained under seal.

No attorney was listed for Silva. The Duval County Sheriff did not immediately return a call for comment.

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