Overview
- Federal prosecutors filed to dismiss the criminal smuggling and false-statement charges on Nov. 2, saying continued prosecution would divert substantial resources from higher priorities.
- The case began after Customs and Border Protection found packages of frog embryos in Kseniia Petrova’s checked bag during a Boston airport inspection and prosecutors charged her with failing to declare them.
- Two court rulings shifted the case: a Vermont judge found her visa was unlawfully canceled and a Boston judge allowed discovery into her claim that the government singled her out for prosecution.
- Prosecutors called Petrova’s selective-prosecution claims meritless but concluded the judge’s discovery order made the case costly to pursue.
- Civil and immigration matters remain unresolved and the case has raised concerns among scientists and universities about how customs rules and visa enforcement affect cross-border research collaboration.