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Fourteen current and former law-enforcement officers are part of twenty individuals charged arrested in the states of Mississippi and Tennessee for taking illicit payments from drug traffickers in exchange for police protection, in what officials labeled "a monumental betrayal of public trust".

These apprehensions come after a years-long probe by federal agents who acted as drug sellers. Among those charged were Mississippi sheriffs.

National authorities set up the sting after hearing reports from actual drug traffickers about being forced to provide corrupt payments to police members.

This corruption scheme allegedly extended beyond the Delta area of Mississippi into the city of Memphis in Tennessee, and Miami in Florida.

"The original complaints that started the inquiry were from narcotics traffickers," a federal prosecutor announced during a news conference on the day of the announcement.

Certain law enforcement members had received illicit payments ranging from $20,000 (£15,000) and $37,000, the legal official added.

This operation utilized undercover federal agents posing as drug dealers with fake narcotics, which the defendants reportedly thought to be 25kg (55lb) of cocaine.

"They sold out the community," declared a high-ranking federal agent. "They violated the confidence that the public placed in them, shamed the badge and weakened the hard work of good law enforcement officers across this state and region."

These detentions occur as American authorities have embarked on aerial attacks in South America against alleged drug traffickers.