How Cops Become Corrupt

Small gifts. Most often, drug smugglers try to compromise police by befriending them with something as innocent as a free cup of coffee or an inexpensive gift. The smuggler carefully works his way into an officer's confidence. Eventually, the smuggler asks for a small but illegal favor, which leads to bigger things. Large bribes. This is less common, but it happens. Drug agents sometimes catch criminals red-handed with millions in cash. ``Let us go, and it's all yours,'' criminals say.

Noble causes. Police, finding a big cache of cash, will sometimes confiscate it for their personal use in the drug war. Other illegal acts follow.