Monrovia-Reports emanating from the United States of America speak of the arrest of a 51-year-old Liberian national, Eric Sumo.
Wanted in Liberia, his home country for document fraud, Sumo was arrested on April 21 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Alexandria, Virginia.
Online news platform, Smartnewsliberia, reported that his capture was part of a wider immigration enforcement operation in Northern Virginia.
Other nationals including two Salvadoran nationals, both of whom are illegally present in the United States, wanted were also arrested.
One of the Salvadorans has prior drug convictions, it is said.
The ICE’s Immigration Enforcement operation was jointly carried out by its Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C. field office.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Department of Justice’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) were part of the raid.
ICE confirmed that all three individuals remain in its custody as immigration proceedings continue.
Sumo was arrested under a Liberian INTERPOL Diffusion issued for his alleged involvement in the manufacturing and possession of fraudulent U.S. visas. U.S. authorities say the operation highlights the effectiveness of international law enforcement collaboration, particularly in cases involving transnational crimes.
“ICE Washington, D.C. takes our commitment to public safety very seriously,” said Russell Hott, Field Office Director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Washington, D.C.
“Our brave officers are out on the streets every day enforcing U.S. immigration laws and ensuring the safety of our Washington, D.C. and Virginia communities. We will continue our mission to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien offenders from our neighborhoods.”
The U.S. Embassy in Monrovia has praising the operation in a statement, emphasizing the importance of continued cooperation between American and Liberian authorities.
“The U.S. Embassy in Monrovia welcomes the recent announcement from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding the arrest and removal of a fugitive wanted in Liberia for producing and selling fraudulent documents,” the statement read.
The Embassy also extended appreciation to the Liberia National Police and the Ministry of Justice for their support in the case, saying their efforts are vital to protecting the integrity of Liberian identity documents and upholding the rule of law.
