Fourteen police officers among twenty individuals have been arrested in a major bribery scandal involving drug traffickers in Mississippi and Tennessee.

In a significant law enforcement operation, fourteen current and former police officers have been charged alongside six other defendants in Mississippi and Tennessee. The group is accused of accepting bribes from drug traffickers in exchange for protection, marking what officials described as "a monumental betrayal of public trust."

This development comes on the heels of an extensive investigation that saw federal agents posing as narcotics dealers. Among those arrested were two sheriffs from Mississippi, highlighting the breadth of corruption within local law enforcement.

According to federal authorities, the sting was initiated after authentic drug traffickers complained about having to pay off officers. The criminal network reportedly spanned beyond the Mississippi Delta to Memphis, Tennessee, and even reached Miami, Florida.

"The initial complaints that triggered this investigation came directly from drug dealers," stated US Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi during a Thursday press briefing.

The prosecutor detailed that some officers received bribes ranging from $20,000 to $37,000. In this elaborate operation, undercover federal agents masqueraded as drug dealers with phony cocaine shipments purportedly weighing 25kg (55lb), which the defendants believed to be genuine.

FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey condemned the actions of the implicated officers by stating they had "sold out the public." He further remarked during the news conference that these individuals not only betrayed public trust but also tarnished the reputation of their fellow law enforcement professionals who work diligently across this state and region.

The arrests coincide with broader US initiatives targeting alleged drug trafficking networks through air strikes in South America. This series of events has cast a spotlight on efforts by agencies to root out corruption while simultaneously combating illegal drug activities across borders.