BOSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested a Russian national Tuesday on charges of smuggling undeclared biological materials, including clawed frog embryos, into the United States through Boston Logan International Airport.
Kseniia Petrova, 31, was charged with one count of smuggling goods into the U.S. According to ICE, Petrova arrived in Boston from Paris on Feb. 16 and was stopped after a law enforcement canine alerted officials to her duffel bag at baggage claim.
Upon inspection, agents discovered a foam box inside the bag containing microcentrifuges filled with clawed frog embryos, as well as embryonic samples embedded in paraffin and mounted dyed slides. These items require a permit and formal declaration to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“Petrova was aware of her requirement to declare biological material brought into the United States,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations in New England.
Evidence includes text messages acknowledging risk
Charging documents allege Petrova initially denied possessing any biological material, later admitting she was carrying samples after being questioned again. A review of Petrova’s phone revealed multiple messages warning her to declare the samples and referencing previous customs inspections.
In one message, she was told, “if you bring samples or antibody back, make sure you get the permission etc.” Another message from a colleague read, “What is your plan to pass the American Customs with samples? This is the most delicate place of the trajectory.” Petrova responded to a similar question with, “No plan yet. I won’t be able to swallow them.”
Petrova previously worked at the Institute of Genetic Biology in Moscow and the Moscow Center for Genetics. She was determined ineligible for entry into the U.S. and taken into immigration custody after voluntarily withdrawing her application for admission.
If convicted, Petrova faces up to 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.