The State : Ex-Customs Man Indicted

A former U.S. Customs Service inspector with dual INS inspection authority and his wife were indicted by a federal grand jury in San Francisco on 38 counts involving the alleged smuggling of aliens and merchandise into the country, federal authorities announced. Alejandro N. Arrivas, 51, and his wife, Cecilia, 34, of South San Francisco, were named in the indictment for alleged acceptance of bribes, alteration of passports, smuggling charges and the filing of a false tax return. Assistant U.S. Atty. Sandra Teters said the couple had agreed to appear in court next week to answer the indictment. Teters said she did not know how many aliens the couple helped smuggle into the country but added that she will depend on the names in the indictment as the number that will be presented in court. The couple appeared in court several months ago to answer a complaint outlining some of the bribery incidents in the indictment. They have been free on a bond since then, Teters said.