Russian-born Harvard Researcher Faces Federal Smuggling Charges, Released on Bail

by Alexandra Agraz | Jun 13, 2025
Sign indicating the "Official Custom Zone" at an airport, with blurred figures of people walking in the background. Photo Source: Adobe Stock Photos

A federal judge on Thursday granted bail to Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born scientist and Harvard University researcher, who faces charges of smuggling frog embryos into the United States. Petrova, 30, had been held in federal custody since her arrest in February.

Petrova was returning to the U.S. from a vacation in France when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Boston Logan International Airport discovered frog embryos in her possession. She had obtained the samples from a laboratory specializing in slicing superfine sections of frog embryos for research purposes. Petrova stated in an April interview with The Associated Press that she was unaware the samples needed to be declared and denied any intention to conceal them from authorities.

Under U.S. federal law, smuggling is defined as knowingly importing goods or substances into the country without proper declaration, typically to evade duties, regulations, or prohibitions. Travelers entering the United States must declare all biological materials, including research samples, at customs. Failure to do so can lead to penalties, seizures, and criminal charges, depending on the nature of the items and the intent of the individual.

Initially detained by immigration officials in Vermont, Petrova filed a legal petition seeking her release. Subsequently, she was transferred to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Louisiana. The Department of Homeland Security alleged on social media that Petrova lied to federal officers and accused her of intending to smuggle the biological samples without declaring them, referencing incriminating messages found on her phone.

In May, Petrova was formally charged with smuggling in Massachusetts as her case was reviewed by a federal judge in Vermont. The judge later determined that immigration officials acted unlawfully, emphasizing that the embryos were nonliving, nonhazardous, and posed no threat. Petrova was subsequently released from ICE custody, though she remains under the supervision of the U.S. Marshals Service pending the smuggling charges.

Support for Petrova has emerged from colleagues and academic peers who highlighted the importance of her research efforts, particularly her contributions toward potential cancer treatments.

Share This Article

If you found this article insightful, consider sharing it with your network.

Alexandra Agraz
Alexandra Agraz
Alexandra Agraz is a former Diplomatic Aide with firsthand experience in facilitating high-level international events, including the signing of critical economic and political agreements between the United States and Mexico. She holds dual associate degrees in Humanities, Social and Political Sciences, and Film, blending a diverse academic background in diplomacy, culture, and storytelling. This unique combination enables her to provide nuanced perspectives on global relations and cultural narratives.

Related Articles

A woman wearing a hijab and glasses speaks passionately, expressing gratitude and emotion after her release from detention, with two men in formal attire standing beside her.
Judge Orders Release of Tufts Student Detained Over Pro-Palestinian Op-Ed

A federal judge has ordered the release of Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish student at Tufts University, who was detained for over six weeks in a Louisiana immigration facility after co-authoring an opinion piece critical of her university's response to the Israel-Gaza conflict. U.S. District Judge William Sessions, sitting in Burlington,... Read More »

A close-up of a person in an orange prison jumpsuit holding onto prison bars.
Three Florida Residents Charged With Violating Iran Sanction Laws

Three Florida residents have been charged with allegedly breaking Iran sanction rules after they exported scientific equipment to the country and received large sums of money from international wire transfers. Mohammad Faghihi, 52, his wife Farzeneh Modarresi, 53, and his sister Faezeh Faghihi, 50, were the perpetrators in the scheme.... Read More »

MIT Professor Gang Chen facing charges related to grant fraud and undisclosed ties to China.
MIT Professor Arrested After Grant Fraud

A highly respected MIT Professor has been arrested and charged with grant fraud after he failed to disclose his ties to the People's Republic of China. The arrest comes after an aggressive investigation from the U.S. Department of Justice regarding American universities and any influence the Chinese government may have... Read More »