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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Customs Officers Face Bribery & Drug Charges

MANHATTAN (CN) - A Customs supervisor and an agent were arrested Wednesday and charged with taking bribes to allow five other men to smuggle hashish, other drugs and counterfeit Rolex and Cartier watches through JFK International Airport, federal prosecutors said.

Customs and Border Protection supervisor Walter Golembiowski, and Customs and Border Protection officer John Ajello face long prison terms if convicted. They allegedly worked with freight forwarders and importers to smuggle the drugs through the airport.

Also charged in the alleged drug-smuggling ring were Sharuk Sariari, a freight forwarder; Victor Juzmas, a customs broker; Sean Mills, a cargo co-op manager; and importers Kai Li and Wei Lam.

Golembiowski, 65, of Bethpage, N.Y., faces up to 65 years in prison if convicted on all four counts of bribery, conspiracy and drug smuggling.

Ajello, 51, of Hicksville, N.Y., was charged with bribery conspiracy.

Juzmas, 46, of Merrick, N.Y., is charged with drug smuggling and bribery conspiracy, as are Mills, 37, of Woodbridge, N.J.; Sariari, 51; Li, 28; and Lam, 37, all of Ft. Lee, N.J.

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