Wanted Man Arrested Trying To Board Flight To Qatar At Philly Airport

PHILADELPHIA — A Virginia man attempting to fly to Qatar was taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Philadelphia International Airport last week on charges related to firearms, assault, and more.

According to federal authorities, Tye’quan Juwan Thompson, 23, of Norfolk, Virginia, was taken into custody at the departure gate for a flight to Doha, Qatar at the airport on Monday, Nov. 27.

Thompson was wanted by the Virginia Beach, Va., Police Department for more than a dozen felonies, including firearms, malicious assault, and firing into an occupied building.

While vetting passenger manifests of departing international flights, CBP officers discovered the arrest warrant for Thompson. Officers also noticed that Thompson did not have a return flight reservation.

Officers came to the departure gate, identified Thompson, and took him back to CBP’s inspection station.

CBP officers then verified that Thompson was the subject of the arrest warrant, and then confirmed with the Virginia Beach Police Department that the warrant remained active.

Officers arrested Thompson and turned him over to the Tinicum Township Police Department to initiate the extradition process.

Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

"One way that law enforcement can help reduce gun violence is to assure that allegedly dangerous perpetrators face severe consequences. Customs and Border Protection continues to help our local law enforcement partners by capturing suspects fleeing the United States and returning them to face justice," Shawn Polley, CBP’s Acting Area Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia, said.