Baltimore Man Indicted for Bribing Federal Official
Zen Aljufri, 61, faces two bribery counts for allegedly trying to pay Customs officers to release a kratom-related shipment.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Drug Crime
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A Baltimore man, Zen Aljufri, 61, was indicted on two counts of bribing a federal official after allegedly offering to pay a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer to release goods held at a port of entry. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland announced the indictment.
Why it matters
The alleged bribe targeted a shipment held under an FDA Red List alert, showing federal efforts to police kratom-related products at the border. Prosecutors allege Aljufri sought to influence the official to help defraud the United States.
Aljufri is charged with two counts of bribing a federal official and faces a maximum of 15 years in prison on each count if convicted. The case is being prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason D. Medinger and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Rigney, and the charges remain allegations pending court proceedings.
The players
Zen Aljufri
A 61-year-old Baltimore man indicted on two counts of bribing a federal official in connection with an attempt to influence Customs officers.
U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland
The federal prosecutorial office responsible for bringing and announcing the charges against Aljufri in Baltimore's federal district.
The details
Aljufri allegedly offered to pay a CBP officer to release a shipment containing mithragyna speciosa, a plant related to kratom, that had been held under FDA Alert 54-15 as part of the FDA Red List. Prosecutors say the attempted payment was intended to ensure the goods could enter the country.
Timeline
November 6, 2026: U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland announced the indictment against Aljufri.
Legal Context
The indictment reflects federal enforcement of FDA Red List holds on kratom-related imports, a regime that routes flagged shipments through Customs review before release. Cases alleging bribery of border officials to clear held goods fall under federal bribery statutes that carry penalties of up to 15 years per count.
Importers and freight businesses handling kratom-related or FDA-flagged products may see stricter scrutiny and holds at ports of entry. Residents should understand that alleged attempts to bribe federal officials are being pursued as serious criminal charges.
The takeaway
Attempts to influence federal officers at the border carry serious criminal exposure even when the underlying goods are legal to some degree. Anyone involved in importing flagged products should follow official FDA and CBP procedures rather than seek informal release.
Further reading
Explore more Drug Crime coverage in Baltimore.
More information
To report suspected fraud, visit the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office fraud reporting page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The United States Department of Justice.
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