Atlanta, Georgia - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from Office of Field Operations at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) took a man into custody to face charges in Canada.

CBP officers were at the gate on March 31, when Hamid Chekakri, 47, an Algerian national arrived on a flight from Costa Rica. CBP officers working with Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Marshals confirmed his identity and verified active warrants for assault, and burglary charges in Montreal, Canada. Today, he was extradited back to Canada to face charges.

“We continue to work closely with all law enforcement agencies to ensure wanted criminals face justice,” said Carey Davis, CBP Port Director for the Area Port of Atlanta. “Our work is vital to protecting the homeland and officers consistently do an outstanding job of taking people off the street that may pose a concern to any community.”

CBP’s Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the U.S. while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. CBP conducts inspection operations and intercepts currency, weapons, prohibited agriculture products and other illicit items, and on average arrests 21 wanted persons a day at U.S. ports of entry nationwide.

Criminal charges are merely allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.