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SEATTLE – Ahmed Ressam, the “Millennium Bomber” was sentenced here today by U.S. District Judge John Coughenour to serve 22 years for his aborted explosives smuggling attempt at Port Angeles, Washington. Ressam, trained by al-Qaida in Afghanistan, intended to use the explosives and bomb-making materials to detonate a bomb at the Los Angeles International Airport during the busy Christmas-New Year’s holiday travel season prior to the 2000 millennium.

“A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer prevented this terrorist from entering our country and killing our citizens,” said CBP Commissioner Robert C. Bonner. “I applaud the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in closing the case.”

Ressam arrived from Canada in a rental car at the MV Coho ferry landing in Port Angeles in the early evening of December 14, 1999. Ressam’s evasive answers aroused the suspicions of CBP officer Diana Dean who directed a search of Ressam’s vehicle and belongings. “It wasn’t just one thing that tipped me off,” said Dean, “there was something strange about his mannerisms and he was stalling in answering my questions.”

CBP Officers Mark Johnson, Dan Clem and Mark Chapman assisted Dean in the vehicle inspection, which revealed bags of powder and unidentified timing devices in the trunk. The discovery totaled twelve plastic bags containing 124 pounds of urea and sulfate, along with four boxes containing homemade timing devices.

Upon discovery of the powder, Ressam bolted from the ferry dock and ran toward downtown Port Angeles. CBP officers chased Ressam on foot and apprehended him after several blocks. Following Ressam’s capture, all four officers received the CBP exceptional-service medal. A jury in Los Angeles found Ressam guilty of conspiracy to commit an act of international terrorism, and eight additional criminal counts in 2001. He has been held at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac.

Earlier this year, Commissioner Bonner announced that CBP’s Anti-Terrorism Award would now be designated as the “Diana Dean and Jose Melendez-Perez Anti-Terrorism Award” in honor of CBP Officers Diana Dean and Jose Melendez-Perez for their vigilance, acts of heroism and service to our Nation, which saved hundreds, if not thousands of lives. “These efforts exemplify what CBP is about – preventing terrorist from entering the U.S. and we are proud to name the Anti-Terrorism Award in their honor,” said Commissioner Bonner.

In August 2001, in Orlando, Florida, Officer Melendez-Perez prevented the alleged “20th hijacker” from entering the United States before 9/11.

Dean, now retired and living in the Midwest, feels a certain sense of closure with today’s sentencing. “At times, that night seems like a long time ago. At other times, it seems like it was just yesterday,” Dean said. “We were doing our jobs. I’m thankful that a potential disaster was averted and justice has been served.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 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.