U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained a Russian national on charges of attempting to smuggle biological materials into the United States. Kseniia Petrova, 31, was charged with one count of smuggling goods into the country after being taken into custody on February 16, 2025, and subsequently arrested on May 14 by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents.
Michael J. Krol, ICE HSI New England Special Agent in Charge, stated, "As alleged in the evidence presented in the charging documents, Petrova was aware of her requirement to declare biological material brought into the United States. These laws aren’t arbitrary; they protect the safety of the public from dangerous and unregulated biological specimens entering the country and posing a threat to public health and agriculture."
According to court documents, Petrova arrived at Logan International Airport in Boston from Paris when U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents stopped her after a law enforcement canine allegedly alerted its handler to her checked duffel bag. Upon inspection at an agricultural secondary area, officers reportedly found clawed frog embryos in microcentrifuges and embryonic samples among other items.
Initially denying possession of any biological material, Petrova later admitted carrying them during an interview under oath but claimed uncertainty about declaration requirements. Text messages retrieved from her phone indicated she had been informed by colleagues about needing permission for such materials.
The documents also allege that Petrova's communication with her principal investigator revealed her lack of a plan for passing through customs with the samples.
Petrova worked at Moscow's Institute of Genetic Biology between 2023-2024 and previously as a bioinformatician at the Moscow Center for Genetics from 2016-2023.
The charge could lead to up to 20 years in prison, five years supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000 if convicted. The investigation was led by HSI New England’s National Security group alongside CBP New England with assistance from HSI New Orleans and the U.S. Marshals Service in Louisiana.
It is important to note that all details are allegations at this stage, and Petrova is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
