May 12, 10

NEWS / CBP in Buffalo Has Busy Weekend Making 2 Significant Arrests

Buffalo, N.Y. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Buffalo Field Office, is reporting two significant arrests and a prohibited food seizure during the past three days, including the arrest of an imposter.

In Champlain, N.Y., CBP officers arrested 29-year-old Corinne Nsolo on Sunday, May 9, at the Champlain port of entry for making a false claim to U.S. citizenship. The subject was traveling with four other women destined to Plattsburgh, N.Y., to visit a sick friend. She claimed to be a U.S. citizen, and presented a genuine U.S. passport. After further questioning and research by CBP officers, it was determined that Nsolo was actually a citizen of The Congo, permanent resident of Canada and was assuming the identity of another person. Federal prosecution was accepted by the Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York for misuse of a passport.

Arrested on May 8, at the Ogdensburg, N.Y., port of entry was 49-year-old Muhammad Humayoun, a citizen of Pakistan, permanent resident of the U.S. from Hammond, Ind. Mr. Humayoun was returning from a two week trip to Montreal. Record checks conducted on Humayoun revealed an active U.S. Marshals Service warrant for dangerous drugs. CBP officers confirmed the warrant, arrested Humayoun and turned him over to the custody of the St. Lawrence County Sheriffs Department to coordinate extradition with the U.S. Marshals Service.

CBP agriculture specialists working at the Lewiston Bridge port of entry on May 9, made a discovery of prohibited duck eggs in a traveler’s vehicle. Kenny Yeh, a U.S. citizen from Brighton, N.Y., was attempting to bring six Chinese preserved duck eggs into the U.S. that were purchased in Canada. Mr. Yeh gave a negative declaration when specifically asked if he was carrying any poultry products. A secondary search of the vehicle revealed the prohibited duck eggs. Mr. Yeh was issued a monetary penalty of $300 before being released as a U.S. citizen.

The entry of prohibited poultry products into the United States is strictly regulated by USDA to prevent the introduction of avian diseases such at Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and/or Exotic Newcastle Disease. These diseases have the potential to cause economic harm and possible devastation to the United States Agriculture industry.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/05102010_2.xml