Israa Sultan, Lying to Federal Officers, New York 2023

Albany Woman Caught Hiding Cocaine in Passport

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Israa Sultan, a 43-year-old Iraqi citizen, has been caught red-handed attempting to smuggle cocaine into Canada using a false identity.

On December 8, 2023, Sultan, who is lawfully present in the United States, attempted to cross from New York into Canada using a United States passport. However, Canadian authorities refused to grant her entry and turned her over to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers.

During an interrogation, Sultan falsely told a CBP Officer that she was the person depicted in the passport. However, when CBP agents searched her, they recovered approximately 20 grams of cocaine.

Sultan is facing serious consequences for her actions. She has pleaded guilty to making a false statement to federal authorities, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.

The case was investigated by CBP, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner is prosecuting the case. Sultan will be sentenced on July 26, 2024.

The incident highlights the importance of border security and the need for effective measures to prevent the smuggling of illicit substances into the country.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndny/pr/iraqi-citizen-pleads-guilty-lying-federal-officers