Sunday April 26, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — U.S. authorities have arrested a Somali national wanted on passport fraud charges and allegedly linked to a 2012 piracy case, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The suspect, identified as Said Jama Ahmed, was taken into custody near the U.S.-Canada border after being spotted by an off-duty Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, officials said in a statement Friday.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested Ahmed on the evening of April 14, 2026, several miles south of the border. He is currently being held in North Dakota on charges of illegal entry.
Authorities allege that Ahmed used forged passport documents and said his fingerprints match evidence collected by the U.S. Navy during a 2012 operation involving a hijacked Indian vessel in the Gulf of Aden. Further details about the alleged piracy link have not been independently verified.
In a statement, Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said U.S. authorities would continue working with international partners to identify and apprehend individuals considered security risks, highlighting coordination between American and Canadian officials in the arrest.
According to DHS, Ahmed first entered the United States illegally in September 2022 near San Luis, Arizona. He was later detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2024 as part of an investigation into fraudulent documentation, and a federal arrest warrant was issued in April 2025.
Officials said Ahmed remained in the country until his recent arrest. No further details were provided about his potential removal proceedings or broader criminal history.
The case underscores ongoing concerns among U.S. authorities about cross-border movement and efforts to track individuals suspected of past criminal activity, including piracy linked to the Horn of Africa.