Traveler Intercepted While Attempting to Board International Flight
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
DALLAS (News Release) – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport arrested a traveler wanted for aggravated sexual assault, Jan. 8.
CBP officers intercepted Mohammad Izhar Ul Haq Ansari, 60, as he attempted to depart the U.S. on a flight to Dubai, UAE one day after a felony warrant was issued for his arrest.
After escorting the passenger to the federal inspection station, CBP officers utilized law enforcement databases to confirm Ansari, a U.S. citizen, was the subject of an outstanding felony warrant for aggravated sexual assault, a first-degree felony entered Jan. 7 by the Collin County Sheriff’s Office out of McKinney, Texas.
“CBP officers take pride in their work every day and are dedicated to the mission of protecting our nation including supporting our local, state and federal law enforcement partners by intercepting wanted fugitives and turning them over to face their charges,” said Timothy Lemaux, Dallas Area Port Director. “We will make every effort to intercept all wanted fugitives attempting to evade justice through international flights.”
CBP officers arrested Ansari and turned him over to the DFW Department of Public Safety at DFW Airport. Charges and allegations contained in criminal complaints are merely accusations. Suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) is a centralized automated database designed to share information among law enforcement agencies including outstanding warrants for a wide range of offenses. Based on information from NCIC, CBP officers have made previous arrests of individuals wanted for homicide, escape, money laundering, robbery, narcotics distribution, sexual child abuse, fraud, larceny, and military desertion.
On a typical day in fiscal year 2021, the men and women of CBP processed 491,688 passengers arriving at airports, seaports, and land borders. CBP officers arrested an average of 25 wanted criminals every day at U.S. ports of entry.
