U.S. Border Patrol agents in the Buffalo Sector contributed to a multi-jurisdictional operation combating trafficking within Monroe County, leading to the arrest of a drug dealer, as per a social media post by Chief Patrol Agent Thomas G. Martin. The task force employs wiretaps, undercover agents, and surveillance equipment to probe both large and small-scale operations.
Martin stated: "On January 12th, 2024, Rochester Border Patrol Agents and a Canine Team assisted GRANET Task Force to seize 23 gms of Cocaine, $4,607, various drug paraphernalia, and .222 caliber rifle, & 9mm Taurus Handgun during the servicing of a search warrant. #USBorderPatrol #SafeStreets."
This development follows the arrest of a 64-year-old man for harassing a woman and her children as reported in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) press release. Monji Jelassi, a Tunisian citizen, was detained by agents on December 2nd. Jelassi was initially apprehended by the Perry Police Department following reports that he was accosting a woman and her children.
The woman informed law enforcement officials that Jelassi had approached her with an offer to "purchase" her 5-year-old child before attempting to entice the child into his car. The news release noted that Jelassi only possessed a foreign-issued international driver’s license as identification.
Patrol Agent in Charge David Banks commented on the incident: "Removing this individual is a matter of public safety and aligns with the interests of our law enforcement partners to remove predators and other dangerous people from our communities."
According to the press release, border patrol agents confirmed Jelassi's identity on December 6th and discovered he was residing in the country on an expired visa. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials subsequently incarcerated Jelassi at the Federal Detention Facility in Batavia, N.Y., where he awaits a deportation hearing for charges under Section 212 and 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
