GOVERNMENT SAYS DEMAND FOR CELLPHONE PASSWORD TO ZARRAB WAS COMMON PRACTICE

Some of the details of the oral argument, in the hearing involving the pending motions to dismiss and motion to suppress evidence, in the Iran sanctions violations case, against the Iranian gold trader, Reza Zarrab, have surfaced,and they illustrate the contentious nature of the case.

The Government, in supporting the actions taken, by US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) in requiring Mr. Zarrab to give up the password to his smartphone, when he arrived in Miami, stated that it was common practice, to ascertain whether there were any terrorist connections with arriving passengers. It argued that the process was analogous to requiring that locked suitcases be opened.

Defense counsel, of course, debated this statement, and the question came up as to whether common practices of law enforcement, in this situation, should be obtained, before the Court makes it ruling. As soon as a decision comes down on the pending motion to dismiss, and for suppression of evidence, we will advise our readers.