— For the second time this summer, a law enforcement officer went on trial in San Diego federal court accused of trading on his duties to police the border for money.

Customs and Border Protection Officer Oscar Ortiz Martinez is charged with conspiracy to smuggle drugs from Mexico into the U.S. and bribery. A federal grand jury indicted him in October 2010 on charges he accepted $52,000 in cash bribes in exchange for allowing supposedly drug-laden cars to pass through the ports of entry at Calexico.

The indictment also charged longtime friend Victor Manuel Silva Jr., who pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge last year and will testify against Ortiz.

In opening remarks to the jury Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joanna Curtis said the two high school buddies began talking about smuggling drugs into the U.S. in late 2009.

The plan moved forward after Silva met a man at his apartment complex and told him he knew a corrupt border officer who was willing to allow drug loads through. It turned out the man was an paid informant for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The ensuing probe included audio recordings, surveillance and the use of an undercover ICE agent who posed as a drug smuggler, Curtis said.

In October 2009, Ortiz accepted a $2,000 bribe from the undercover agent. He later allowed a car he believed was carrying cocaine through his inspection lane, and he collected $20,000 in cash, prosecutors said. He was arrested in September.

Jorge Jaramillo, Ortiz’s lawyer, told the jury to be wary of the credibility of Silva, saying it was Silva who was desperate for money.

In August, two Border Patrol agents were convicted of human smuggling, conspiracy and bribery for running a lucrative illegal immigrant smuggling ring.

Greg Moran • U-T