see also: in July 2007 News Releases:   CBP Air and Marine Acquires Helicopters for Border Security Mission   CBP Officers At El Paso Port Nab 50 Pounds Of Cocaine; Two Juveniles Taken Into Custody   CBP Border Patrol Agent Dies In the Line of Duty   Hong Kong to Scan U.S.-Bound Goods for Radiation as Part of Secure Freight Initiative   Border Patrol Assists in Third Canal Rescue in a Week   CBP Officers Apprehend Fugitive Wanted For Murder, Rape, Burglary   Operation Streamline Nets 1,200-Plus Prosecutions in Arizona ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Clayton, N. Y. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the arrest of a German citizen who entered the United States illegally at the Clayton New York Public Boat Docks.

CBP officers working at the Ogdensburg, N. Y. port of entry July 7 received a call via the boat reporting videophone from a concerned citizen. The citizen advised CBP officers that he had just witnessed a male subject being dropped off by a boat near the Clayton Public Docks. Upon reaching land, the subject was observed running away from the public dock area. The citizen gave CBP officers a description of the subject and further advised that he heard the individual speaking English with a German accent.

CBP officers immediately notified CBP Border Patrol, who dispatched agents to the village of Clayton to investigate the report. Upon arriving, agents were notified by another citizen in the area that a subject matching that description was inside a local bar attempting to contact a taxi company.

Shortly thereafter, Border Patrol agents encountered a 35-year-old male subject as he was leaving the bar. Upon initial questioning, the subject denied entering the United States at the Clayton Boat Docks, but later recanted. He then advised agents that he kayaked across the St. Lawrence River from Canada, and then received a boat ride from an unknown subject to the public docks in Clayton.

Border Patrol agents determined that the subject was a German citizen, without proper documentation to enter or remain in the United States. Record checks later revealed that in 2005, the subject was apprehended in Vermont and subsequently removed from the United States under the same charge. CBP Border Patrol agents arrested the subject for re-entry of a removed alien.

“This is a perfect example of how tips from the public contribute to securing our borders,” said Kevin Corsaro, CBP Public Affairs Officer for the Buffalo Field Office. “A concerned citizen reported what he felt was suspicious activity to the proper authorities, resulting in the apprehension of an individual illegally in the United States.”

To report suspicious activity, boaters are encouraged to call 1-800-331-0353 for Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and Niagara River areas, or 1-800-247-2434 for the St Lawrence River and Lake Champlain areas.

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.