2 Men Wanted For Sex Crimes In Maryland Arrested At Dulles Airport

DULLES, VA — Customs officers at Washington Dulles International Airport recently arrested two men who wanted in Maryland on felony sex crime charges, according to a release.

On Aug. 21, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested Jose Efrain Mejia Alas as he was attempting to board a flight to El Salvador.

The Salvadoran national living in Germantown, Maryland, was wanted on two counts of second-degree rape, sexual abuse of a minor, and other charges by Montgomery County Police, according to the release.

CBP officers placed a detainer on Mejia Alas after he admitted he had entered the U.S. illegally six years ago. He will be returned to CBP custody for removal proceedings following adjudication of his charges in Maryland, according to the release.

After arriving on an Aug. 18 flight from El Salvador, Juan Anitportan Lara Ramos was arrested by CBP officer. The 50-year-old Salvadoran national and U.S. lawful permanent resident living in Essex, Maryland, was wanted for sexual abuse of a minor in Baltimore County.

Before making the arrests, CBP officers confirmed that the felony-charged warrants against both men were still active and verified their identities. Mejia Alas and Ramos were each turned over to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police.

“Customs and Border Protection officers continue to support our local law enforcement partners by identifying and arresting travelers who are wanted on a variety of criminal charges, including these heinous sex crimes allegations,” said Daniel Escobedo, area port director for CBP’s Area Port of Washington, D.C. “Border security remains a critical mission for CBP, and one that we take very serious because it helps to ensure the safety of our communities.”