A Chinese-American citizen who previously served as a U.S. Customs officer was arrested at Bangor International Airport in Maine.
On Friday, September 11, The Maine Wire reported that a 39-year-old Chinese citizen was arrested in Maine on Wednesday, September 9, and was briefly held at Penobscot County Jail before being transferred to another facility.
According to records from Penobscot County Jail and the court, Terry Liu, also known as Liu Jiajia, who resides in Calais, was transferred to an undisclosed facility on Thursday afternoon and was awaiting a detention hearing.
Court documents indicate that Liu Jiajia is charged with theft and damaging government property.
Records from the county sheriff’s office show that Liu Jiajia was booked into jail at 9:51 a.m. on Thursday and was transferred to another unspecified facility at 1:30 p.m. that same day.
As of Thursday evening, court records show that Liu Jiajia’s detention hearing was scheduled for Friday morning.
Sources revealed that Liu Jiajia’s property on Pearl Street in Calais (located on the U.S.-Canada border) was also searched by agents on Thursday. Local residents believe it was FBI agents conducting a raid.
Sources mentioned that Liu Jiajia previously served as a U.S. Customs officer at the Ferry Point International Bridge and was arrested at Bangor International Airport while attempting to board a flight back to China.
The sheriff’s office declined to comment.
The Ferry Point International Bridge connects St. Stephen in New Brunswick, Canada, with Calais, Maine, spanning the St. Croix River.
According to county property records, Liu Jiajia purchased property in Calais in 2018.
Liu Jiajia hails from Guangzhou, China. Prior to this incident, he resided in Oklahoma, and his Facebook account indicates that he studied and worked in the local government there.
Company records and permit documents show that Liu Jiajia briefly held valid marijuana permits associated with Jliu Farm LLC located in Webbers Falls, Oklahoma.