BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry arrested a traveler who attempted to enter the U.S. using a fraudulently-obtained U.S. passport.
“Our officers did an excellent job identifying misuse of a genuine travel document,” said Rose Hilmey, CBP director of field operations for the Buffalo Field Office. “This is one of the most difficult types of fraud to detect because the traveler presented a valid U.S. passport bearing his true photo.”
On February 28, CBP Officers encountered Ayodeji Adebayo, a 43-year-old male, citizen of Nigeria, who presented a U.S. passport bearing a different name when attempting entry into the U.S.
Utilizing observational and interview techniques along with biometric verification, CBP officers apprehended and arrested Adebayo.
On March 4, Adebayo appeared before a federal magistrate, and was charged with false claim to US citizenship and false statements. Adebayo was remanded to custody pending a detention hearing scheduled later this month.
CBP Field Operations is responsible for securing our borders at the ports of entry. CBP officers’ primary mission is anti-terrorism; they screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the U.S., while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the nation. Their mission also includes traditional border security responsibilities, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration law, protecting the nation’s food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases, and enforcing trade laws.