Harvard researcher in ICE custody charged with smuggling frog embryos into Boston

Rick Sobey, Boston Herald on May 14, 2025

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BOSTON — A Harvard researcher who has been in ICE custody for months has been charged with allegedly trying to smuggle frog embryos into Boston.

Russian national Kseniia Petrova, 31, who was taken into ICE custody at Logan airport in February, has now been arrested and charged by the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Petrova, who recently wrote an opinion piece in The New York Times about her ICE detention, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of smuggling goods into the country.

Back on Feb. 16, she flew from Paris to Boston. Upon her arrival, Petrova was stopped by Customs and Border Protection agents after a law enforcement canine allegedly alerted its handler to her checked duffel bag on the baggage carousel.

Law enforcement removed the bag from the carousel, and brought it to an agricultural secondary inspection area for screening.

An officer inspected the contents of the bag and allegedly discovered the biological items: a foam box containing clawed frog embryos in microcentrifuges, as well as embryonic samples in paraffin well stages and on mounted dyed slides.

All biological products require a permit for entry and require the individual to make a declaration to Customs and Border Protection at the port of first arrival.

When approached by law enforcement, Petrova initially denied carrying any biological material in her checked baggage. However, when asked again, Petrova allegedly admitted that she was carrying biological material.

During an interview under oath, Petrova allegedly claimed that she was unsure about the requirement to declare biological material when entering the U.S.

However, Petrova’s phone allegedly revealed texts from one of Petrova’s colleagues — informing Petrova that she was required to declare the biological material:

“If you bring samples or antibody back, make sure you get the permission etc. Like that link I sent to leon-/group chat about frog embryos because TSA went through my bags at customs in Boston”; and, “What is your plan to pass the American Customs with samples? This is the most delicate place of the trajectory.”

In another text convo with her principal investigator, Petrova was asked how she planned to get through customs with the biological samples, to which she allegedly replied: “No plan yet. I won’t be able to swallow them.”

Petrova was then taken into custody by immigration officials.

She was recently employed by the Institute of Genetic Biology in Moscow from 2023 to 2024, and previously served as a bioinformatician of genetic disorders at the Moscow Center for Genetics from 2016 to 2023.

“The rule of law does not have a carve out for educated individuals with pedigree,” said U.S. Attorney Leah Foley. “The U.S. visa that Ms. Petrova was given — which was revoked by Customs officials as a result of her conduct — is a privilege, not a right.”

Foley added, “It is unfortunate that The New York Times allowed her alleged lies to be perpetuated with Ms. Petrova’s guest essay, another instance of the media not allowing facts to get in the way of a good story.”

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