A woman accused of sending an envelope that contained the poison ricin that was addressed to the White House has been apprehended.
While briefing The Associated Press recently, law enforcement officials said she was arrested at the New York-Canada border.
The letter was intercepted before got to the White House and the suspect had been taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Peace Bridge border crossing near Buffalo. While talking further, the officials said she is expected to face federal charges. The officials however did not disclose her name immediately.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the letter addressed to the White House seemed to have originated in Canada. The letter was intercepted at a government facility that scrutinises mail addressed to the White House and President Donald Trump and a preliminary investigation revealed it tested positive for ricin.
There have been many prior occurrences in which U.S. officials have been aimed with ricin sent via the mail.
A Navy veteran was nabbed in 2018 and confessed to have sent envelopes to Trump and members of his cabinet that contained the chemical from which ricin is derived. The letters were intercepted and no one was affected.
A Mississippi man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after sending letters laced with ricin to President Barack Obama and other cabinet members in 2014.
