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Fact Check: Petrova, a Russian citizen, was taken into custody in May after prosecutors in Massachusetts accused her of smuggling frog embryos into the United States without properly declaring them.

Fact Check: Petrova, a Russian citizen, was taken into custody in May after prosecutors in Massachusetts accused her of smuggling frog embryos into the United States without properly declaring them.

Published June 13, 2025
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# Fact Check: "Petrova, a Russian citizen, was taken into custody in May after prosecutors in Massachusetts accused her of smuggling frog embryos into...

Fact Check: "Petrova, a Russian citizen, was taken into custody in May after prosecutors in Massachusetts accused her of smuggling frog embryos into the United States without properly declaring them."

What We Know

Kseniia Petrova, a 31-year-old Russian citizen, was indeed taken into custody in May 2025 after being charged with smuggling goods into the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Petrova was accused of attempting to smuggle clawed frog embryos and embryonic samples into the U.S. without the necessary declarations. The incident occurred at Logan International Airport in Boston, where Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents discovered the biological materials in her checked luggage following a canine alert. The contents included a foam box with frog embryos and other biological samples, which require permits for entry into the U.S. and must be declared upon arrival.

Petrova initially denied carrying any biological materials but later admitted to having them when questioned by law enforcement. Text messages from her phone indicated that she was aware of the need to declare such materials, contradicting her claims of uncertainty regarding the declaration requirement (NBC News, CBS News).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim that Petrova was taken into custody for smuggling frog embryos is robust. Multiple reputable sources, including the Department of Justice and NBC News, confirm the details of her arrest and the charges against her. The legal framework under which she was charged, specifically 18 U.S.C. § 545, pertains to the smuggling of goods into the United States, which is applicable in this case.

The reliability of the sources is high, as they include official statements from the U.S. government and established news organizations. The Department of Justice is a primary source for legal matters, and NBC News is known for its journalistic integrity.

However, it is important to note that while Petrova has been charged, she is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The legal proceedings are ongoing, and a probable cause hearing is scheduled, which may provide further clarity on the situation (CNN, AOL).

Conclusion

The claim that "Petrova, a Russian citizen, was taken into custody in May after prosecutors in Massachusetts accused her of smuggling frog embryos into the United States without properly declaring them" is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that she was arrested and charged with smuggling biological materials, specifically frog embryos, into the U.S. without the required declarations.

Sources

  1. Russian National Charged with Smuggling Biological Material Into Boston
  2. Harvard researcher is released from federal custody following ...
  3. Russian scientist from Harvard accused of smuggling frog ...
  4. Harvard researcher charged with smuggling frog embryos ...
  5. Ivy League bio smuggling suspect with ties to American ...
  6. Harvard researcher charged with smuggling frog embryos ...
  7. Russian Scientist Freed on Bail in U.S. After Frog Embryo ...
  8. Smuggling Frog Embryos and Federal Crackdown

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