see also: in January 2009:   CBP Officers Discover 957 Pounds of Marijuana in Concrete Pipes   CBP Canine Detects $600,000 Worth of Marijuana at Douglas Port   CBP Officers Seize $80,000 of Marijuana at Naco Port of Entry   Border Patrol Stops Vehicle, Leads to Meth Seizure   CBP Officers at Hidalgo/Reynosa International Bridge Seize Fake $20’s Found during Outbound Inspection   Border Patrol Agents Rescue Woman Injured in Car Accident   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Arrest Wanted Sex Offender ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Blaine, Wash. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Peace Arch port of entry apprehended a Surrey, British Columbia man on January 1, who was the subject of a felony warrant in Clark County, Nev., for fraud.

Officers arrested Chanh Lee, 48, upon his arrival to the United States when a name check revealed that he was the subject of a National Criminal Information Center felony warrant. After the outstanding warrant for arrest was verified with Clark County officials Lee was taken into custody and turned over to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office for extradition back to Nevada.

This was not the first arrest by CBP officers in Washington State on New Year’s Day. Hours earlier at the Lynden port of entry, Kenneth Keys, 20, of Bellingham, Wash., was taken into custody when officers there discovered an outstanding warrant from Whatcom County for operating a motor vehicle after alcohol consumption.

Also arrested on New Year’s Day was Brian Morales, 37, of Bellevue, Wash., upon his arrival at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport on an international flight from Amsterdam. Morales was taken into custody when CBP officers at the airport conducted a review of a passenger manifest and determined that he was wanted in Seattle for domestic assault. Morales was taken into custody by CBP officers while he was attempting to retrieve his luggage and turned over to the Port of Seattle Police.

“Our CBP officers are to be commended for their continuing vigilance at our land, sea and air ports as the year 2009 begins,” said Seattle CBP Director of Field Operations Michele James. “Apprehending persons who are the subject of an outstanding warrant as they attempt to enter the U.S. at our ports of entry is a critical element of our border security efforts and directly contributes to the safety of our communities throughout the United States.”

In fiscal year 2008, CBP officers in Washington State arrested 907 persons for a wide range of offenses including human and narcotic smuggling attempts as well as for outstanding warrants.

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.