Ex-CBP Officer Gets 20 Years for Cocaine Smuggling

Ivan Van Beverhoudt, a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer stationed in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release for smuggling over 17 kilograms (more than 33 pounds) of cocaine into the United States via a Delta flight to Atlanta in 2020. Van Beverhoudt used his CBP credentials and official firearm to bypass TSA security but was caught at Atlanta airport when a narcotics K-9 alerted officers to his luggage during a routine inspection. He was convicted in February 2025 after a five-day jury trial on multiple charges, including conspiracy to import and distribute cocaine. Prosecutors and officials described his actions as a severe betrayal of public trust and highlighted ongoing efforts to hold law enforcement accountable for criminal conduct. In a related case, another CBP officer, Jesse Clark Garcia of San Diego, pleaded guilty to drug importation charges for allowing vehicles laden with narcotics to pass through border inspection lanes. These cases reflect broader concerns about corruption within border enforcement agencies.