Italian Citizens Apprehended in Buffalo

A group of Italian citizens have been apprehended in Buffalo, New York, after being accused of smuggling contraband into the United States.

The arrests were made by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Peace Bridge border crossing on Thursday, August 18, 2023. The five individuals, all of whom are Italian nationals, were found to be in possession of a large quantity of undeclared currency, jewelry, and other luxury goods.

According to CBP, the total value of the seized contraband is estimated to be over $1 million.

The individuals have been charged with smuggling and money laundering. They are scheduled to appear in federal court in Buffalo on Friday, August 19, 2023.

This is the second major smuggling bust involving Italian citizens in the Buffalo area in recent months.

In June, CBP officers arrested three Italian nationals at the Peace Bridge after they were found to be in possession of over $2 million worth of undeclared currency and jewelry.

**The smuggling of contraband into the United States is a serious crime.**

CBP officers are working diligently to combat this problem and protect the integrity of our borders.

In 2022, CBP officers seized over $1 billion worth of contraband at the nation's borders. This included over $300 million worth of currency, over $200 million worth of narcotics, and over $100 million worth of counterfeit goods.

CBP is committed to working with its partners to combat smuggling and other illicit activities at the borders.

The agency is constantly developing new strategies and technologies to detect and deter smugglers. CBP also يعمل مع وكالات إنفاذ القانون المحلية والولائية والفيدرالية لمشاركة المعلومات وتنسيق جهود مكافحة التهريب.

**Here are some additional details about the recent smuggling bust in Buffalo:**

• The five individuals arrested were all male, and their ages ranged from 25 to 50.
• The individuals were traveling in a commercial van that was registered in Italy.
• The contraband was hidden in the van's cargo area.
• The individuals have been charged with smuggling and money laundering.
• They are scheduled to appear in federal court in Buffalo on Friday, August 19, 2023.

**The smuggling of contraband into the United States is a serious crime.**

CBP officers are working diligently to combat this problem and protect the integrity of our borders.

If you have information about smuggling activities, please contact CBP at 1-800-BE-ALERT.

**Additional Resources:**

• CBP website
• CBP on Twitter
• CBP on Facebook

## FAQs

Q: What is smuggling?

A: Smuggling is the illegal transportation of goods across borders. Smuggled goods can include anything from drugs and weapons to currency and counterfeit goods.

Q: Why is smuggling a problem?

A: Smuggling can have a number of negative consequences, including:

• It can lead to the spread of illegal drugs and weapons.
• It can damage the economy by depriving governments of tax revenue.
• It can pose a health and safety risk to consumers.

Q: What is CBP doing to combat smuggling?

A: CBP is committed to working with its partners to combat smuggling and other illicit activities at the borders. The agency is constantly developing new strategies and technologies to detect and deter smugglers. CBP also يعمل مع وكالات إنفاذ القانون المحلية والولائية والفيدرالية لمشاركة المعلومات وتنسيق جهود مكافحة التهريب.

Q: What can I do to help CBP combat smuggling?

A: If you have information about smuggling activities, please contact CBP at 1-800-BE-ALERT.