San Ysidro, Calif. A 30-year old North Hollywood man wanted by the Los Angeles sheriffs department on police obstruction charges was apprehended Thursday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Ysidro port of entry as he tried to enter the U.S., CBP officials announced today.

CBP officers intercepted Hovik Joe Altunyan at about 4:45 p.m. Thursday, April 3, when he entered the San Ysidro border crossing driving a California-plated white Infinity vehicle. Altunyan declared that he was a U.S. citizen and presented his U.S. passport to officers.

Officers were alerted that Altunyan was wanted after they ran his name against law enforcement databases. The vehicle and occupants were escorted into the secondary lot for further processing.

During the secondary inspection CBP officers contacted the Los Angeles sheriffs department to confirm that Altunyan was still the subject of an active felony arrest warrant. Bail had been set at $1,987,000.

Altunyan later was transported to the San Diego County jail. A male passenger in the vehicle was released.

This apprehension is a direct result of frontline CBP officers conducting complete primary inspections including name queries on suspect individuals, said Port Director Oscar Preciado.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

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