St. Thomas, Virgin Islands - A woman wanted by New York Suffolk County authorities was recently identified and arrested by Cyril E. King Airport U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers while traveling to Miami, Florida.
Mari Elizabeth Ahevonderae, 42, presented herself for inspection at the Cyril E. King Airport prior to boarding an American Airlines flight destined to Miami. CBP law enforcement databases revealed that Ahevonderae was wanted on a probation violation by the Suffolk County Sherriff’s Office in New York.
After confirmation of the outstanding warrant, Ahevonderae was allowed to travel to Miami International Airport where CBP officers arrested her and turned her over to the Miami-Dade Police Department for extradition proceedings.
“Customs and Border Protection is an agency committed to securing our borders, while at the same time cooperating with other law enforcement agencies in the enforcement of U.S. laws. CBP officers are always vigilant to detect individuals that have broken our laws and attempt to defeat our justice system,” stated Marcelino Borges, Director of Field Operations for Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.
The primary mission of CBP is anti-terrorism. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles, and goods entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel into and out of the nation.
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.