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Newark, N.J. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Port of Newark announces its fiscal year 2008 accomplishments which include significant increases in narcotics seizures, inadmissible traveler apprehensions, and pest interceptions at Newark Liberty International Airport.

CBP officers and agriculture specialists at NLIA, the nation’s fifth busiest airport for international arrivals, processed more than 5 million passengers arriving on more than 42,000 flights during FY 2008. This represents an 8 percent increase in passenger volume over the last fiscal year. CBP’s priority mission is to prevent the entry of persons, narcotics, insect pests or weapons that may pose a threat to our nation and our citizens.

CBP at NLIA report the following accomplishments for FY 2008, which ended September 30.

• CBP officers prevented the entry of 13 foreign nationals, who were identified as potential threats to national security, at Newark Liberty International Airport.
• Apprehensions of inadmissible aliens increased this year to more than 1,800; a 29 percent increase over FY 2007’s total of more than 1,400. Foreign nationals can be found inadmissible for several reasons, including overstaying previous visits, using fraudulent documents, intending to immigrate illegally, or being convicted of committing crimes involving moral turpitude.
• Federal immigration prosecutions increased to 14 in FY 2008; a 40 percent increase over last year’s total. Prosecutions included re-entries after deportation, false claims to U.S. citizenship, and alien smuggling.
• Newark’s most significant immigration prosecution was the attempt by two Chinese nationals to smuggle three Chinese minors into the U.S. by using false documents in late July.
• CBP officers at NLIA seized approximately more than 100 pounds of heroin and approximately 164 pounds of cocaine with a street value of over $15 million.
• Two of the more notable narcotics seizures involved a passenger arriving from Colombia carrying four liters of liquid heroin concealed in liquor bottles and a passenger from Peru smuggling 10 pounds of heroin concealed in candy in late April. Both were arrested and are awaiting prosecution.
• CBP officers also made 95 arrests for NCIC warrants issued by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. These arrests reflect the growing close cooperation by all levels of law enforcement.
• CBP officers affected more than 40 currency seizures totaling over $1.5 million in undeclared currency from travelers arriving or departing the U.S.
• The Currency Canine Team at NLIA was responsible for seizing a more than $400,000, in undeclared currency. The team also supported other agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigations resulting in a $30,000 seizure in mid-December, and the Rockland County (N.Y.) Sheriffs Office resulting in two seizures totaling $278,000 in late June.
• The Narcotic Detector Dog Team at NLIA was credited with 19 seizures totaling over 2,615 pounds of narcotics. Seizures more than doubled FY 2007’s total of eight seizures. In addition, the Newark Narcotic Canine Unit was credited with six detections, totaling 26 pounds of marijuana and 10.5 pounds of cocaine while working with U.S. Postal Service Inspectors.
• The area leads the nation in issuance of over 3,800 airport agriculture civil penalties, 69 percent over the second highest port.
• Agriculture seizure penalties issued in passenger processing has increased 9.5 percent compared to FY 2007, resulting in a 23 percent increase of revenue generated by such seizure cases - $907,000.
• In August, agriculture specialists identified several locust infestations aboard flights arriving from India. Upon the discovery of the locusts, CBP and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in coordination with the airline industry, took several precautionary steps to prevent the spread of locusts in the United States. Ultimately, six aircraft required treatment.
• The Beagle Brigade and agriculture canine officers at NLIA produced a total of 4,214 finds of prohibited agriculture products. This is an increase of 8 percent over FY 2007’s total of 3,862 finds. This year’s seizures resulted in: 2,866 seizures of plant material totaling 2,924 pounds; 1,348 animal product seizures totaling 9,154 pounds in weight; 195 civil penalties; and 61 interceptions of dangerous insect pests.

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.