MIAMI -- State and federal officials announced Thursday the arrests of 52 people on criminal and immigration charges stemming from an alleged scheme to sell commercial Florida driver's licenses.

Among those charged were three driver's license examiners -- two in Broward County and one in Miami-Dade County -- who allegedly sold fake licenses for between $100 and $200 apiece. The licenses allow drivers to operate fuel tankers, hazardous material trucks and other heavy machinery that investigators said could potentially be used by terrorists.

The Story In Pictures: 52 Arrested In License Scam

"These cases are important because a driver's license is a bad guy's ticket in," said U.S. Attorney Marcos Daniel Jimenez.

Jesus Torres, special agent in charge of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office in Miami, said there was no evidence that any of those who bought licenses had connections with terrorism. Of the 52 arrested, 23 face criminal charges and 29 face deportation for violating immigration laws, Torres said.

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The three examiners were identified as Derene Frasier, Tracie Dunlap and Yvette Jackson. Maj. David Brierton, of the Florida Highway Patrol, said the three were in the process of being dismissed from the state driver's license agency.

Immigration and customs enforcement agents said Dunlap was selling driver's licenses to illegal aliens who initially presented fake documents and then paid her to get a license that to police, banks and anyone else appeared real -- because it was.

Officials said the scheme involved "recruiters" who would charge people between $1,500 and $3,000 to connect them with examiners who would then falsely certify the individuals as U.S. citizens and issue licenses.

Some who came to get the licenses were illegal aliens who had already received deportation orders to leave the U.S., officials said.

Torres said 36 of the licenses were issued to people without proper training and 11 were involved in accidents with injuries, including one fatality.

The government said these arrests are the result of months of undercover work.