BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers arrested a 32-year-old Venezuelan national on Tuesday at the Peace Bridge border crossing after identifying him as the driver of a stolen vehicle and discovering he had active felony warrants in Colorado.
The incident began when the driver, Naxer Acevedo Escalona, mistakenly drove a 2016 Nissan Altima onto the Peace Bridge, connecting Buffalo, N.Y., and Fort Erie, Canada. At the primary inspection area, officers found the vehicle had been reported stolen to the Chicago Police Department through the National Crime Information Center database.
CBP officers escorted the vehicle and its occupants to a secondary inspection area for further investigation. During this process, officers confirmed the driver’s identity and discovered Escalona was wanted by the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado for charges including armed robbery and vehicle theft.
After verifying that the Nissan Altima matched the vehicle reported stolen, CBP officers contacted local and state law enforcement to confirm the felony warrants. The driver was taken into custody, processed by CBP, and handed over to local authorities.
“Thanks to the outstanding work of our CBP officers, another criminal was removed from our streets,” said Area Port Director Gaetano Cordone, highlighting the collaborative effort between CBP and state and local partners.