Government says Harvard researcher accused of smuggling frog embryos brought biological materials

Harvard researcher Kseniia Petrova faces charges for allegedly smuggling frog embryos into the U. S. without proper declaration. The probable cause hearing addressed whether the embryos constituted "biological materials" under U. S.

law. Upon her return from France in February, Customs and Border Protection detained her at Boston Logan International Airport. Federal officials claimed she intended to bypass customs regulations, but her attorney contested the clarity of the legal definitions involved. A Homeland Security agent testified that had Petrova declared the embryos, she would not have been allowed to proceed. Following her initial arrest, immigration officials canceled her visa, leading to a brief detention at an ICE facility.

A judge later ruled that the actions taken against her were unlawful. If convicted, Petrova could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.