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Dulles CBP Finds Drugs Hidden by Iranian Traveler

Release Date
Fri, 05/16/2014

STERLING, Va. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) at Washington Dulles International Airport found drugs hidden in the clothing worn by an Iranian citizen Thursday.

Hassan Samei, 52 of Chapel Hill, N.C., arrived on a flight from Doha, Qatar, and was referred for a secondary inspection. CBP officers searched Samei’s luggage and found a small smoking instrument and a small container. A field test showed that residue on both items tested positive for marijuana.

CBP officers then searched Samei and discovered 12.1 grams of suspected hashish in a white cylindrical container in his shirt pocket, 17.3 grams of suspected methamphetamine in a white cylindrical container in the buttock region of his pants, and 13.1 grams of suspected ecstasy in a glass tube in the groin area of his pants.

CBP turned Samei over to Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority police for prosecution on felony drug possession.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered hashish, exstasy and methamphetamine on a traveler from Iran at Washington Dulles International Airport May 15, 2014.“This drug seizure and arrest further illustrates Customs and Border Protection’s continued vigilance to detect and to intercept illicit narcotics at our nation’s borders,” said Frances B. Garcia, Acting CBP Port Director for the Port of Washington Dulles. “We remain hopeful that the threat of detection and criminal charges deters others from attempting to smuggle illicit narcotics through Washington Dulles International Airport.”

CBP placed an immigration detainer on Samei, who holds permanent resident status in the U.S., which ensures that he is returned to CBP upon the adjudication of any charges for further immigration processing.

Criminal complaints are only charges and not evidence of guilt.  A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

In addition to drug enforcement, CBP routinely conducts inspection operations on arriving and departing international flights and intercepts unreported currency, weapons, prohibited agriculture products, and other illicit items.

Travelers are encouraged to visit CBP’s Travel pages to learn rules governing travel to and from the U.S.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021