U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Port of Buffalo, Peace Bridge border crossing, apprehended a United States citizen with an active arrest warrant after he attempted to evade inspection by jumping a fence.
The individual, identified as Jesse Smith, a 30-year-old male U.S. citizen, was detained after he left the Peace Bridge by climbing over a fence. Smith had entered the Peace Bridge Plaza from an unauthorized area intending to walk to Canada but changed his mind and jumped back over the fence to avoid inspection. CBP officers then took him to a secondary inspection area for further investigation.
During this process, the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) revealed that Smith was wanted by the Erie County Sheriff’s Office in Pennsylvania for a probation violation related to his original charge of driving while ability impaired by a controlled substance. CBP officers confirmed Smith's identity and verified the active warrant.
Buffalo Port Director Gaetano Cordone stated, “Our CBP officers screen all travelers including apprehending those who deliberately attempt to evade inspection. I am proud of the commitment and dedication of our officers as they continue to keep our country and communities safe from wanted fugitives.”
Smith was processed by CBP officers and handed over to the Buffalo Police Department. He is currently held at the Erie County Sheriff’s Office in New York awaiting extradition.
CBP encourages following their updates on X (formerly Twitter) @CBPBuffalo and @DFOBuffalo.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is described as America's frontline: it is noted as being the nation's largest law enforcement organization and recognized as the world's first unified border management agency. The agency's 65,000+ personnel work across various environments—land, air, and sea—to protect America while facilitating lawful travel and trade, contributing to economic prosperity through security enhancements via innovation, intelligence, collaboration, and trust.
