CBP Joins Government Agencies to Announce Charges Against 32 Suspects in Complex Case

Newark, N.J. — U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from the New York Field Office participated in a joint press event on Friday March 2nd, with the U. S. Attorney's Office, Homeland Security Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to announce charges being brought against 32 suspects in a complex case involving IPR, drugs, military technology and money laundering.

Mr. Robert E. Perez, Director, New York Field Operations spoke on behalf of CBP's involvement with this case and was joined by USA Paul J. Fishman, Executive Associate Director James A. Dinkins, HSI and New Jersey FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael B. Ward.

“This case illustrates how well government agencies are assisting each other in sharing information and expertise,” said Robert E. Perez, Director of CBP’s New York Field Operations. “There could not be a successful prosecution without extensive multi-agency cooperation and collaboration.”

Since 2009, CBP at the Port of New York/Newark has collaborated with HSI and the FBI by facilitating container enforcement operations integral to two criminal investigations involving the import of counterfeit goods. HSI, CBP Officers, and Newark’s Import Specialist Enforcement Team identified suspect containers related to the cases. CBP sampled and identified violations in the merchandise within the suspect containers without arousing the suspicion of the targets, while mitigating any more serious terrorist or narcotics threats.

The Complaints, Indictment and photographs are available on the Department of Justice website.

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.