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Justin Bieber on Homeland Security Watch List: Report

By Aditi Mukherji, JD on February 05, 2014 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Justin Bieber may not be landing on any best-dressed lists, but it seems he may have snagged a spot on a Homeland Security watch list, according to a new report.

The troubled 19-year-old pop star was flagged by U.S. Customs officials on Friday when he landed in New Jersey in a private plane that arrived from Canada, the website TMZ reports.

But was the extra scrutiny due to Bieber's being on a government watch list, as the website claims?

The 1st Rule of the Gov't Watch List Is...

Apart from checking suspected terrorists, the USA Patriot Act gives customs officials broad authority to flag people arriving from a foreign country when they have an active criminal case or a conviction.

Although Bieber is currently facing an assault charge in Canada and a DUI charge in Miami, it can't be said with complete certainty that Justin Bieber is on a government watch list. That's because, for obvious security reasons, the U.S. government does not reveal whether a particular person is on or not on a watch list, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

If Bieber is on a watch list, the young star would be required to undergo additional screening before boarding any planes.

As part of the inspection process, Customs and Border Protection officers would confirm his identity, determine his admissibility into the United States, and make sure he's following U.S. laws, including looking for possible drugs, weapons, and other prohibited items.

And speaking of drugs...

Bieber's Plane Searched for Pot

As part of the Customs inspection, agents searched Bieber's plane for pot as the star and his entourage were allegedly (and literally) flying high, NBC News reports.

Bieber, his father Jeremy, and his entourage of 10 people reportedly smoked so much weed aboard the plane that the pilots had to wear oxygen masks to avoid inhaling any of the smoke. The flight attendant apparently complained that the passengers, including Bieber and his father, were so verbally abusive to her during the flight that the pilot had her stay near the cockpit to avoid further abuse.

DEA and Customs and Border Protection agents, along with police, arrived as soon as Bieber's plane landed. Bieber was questioned, but no drugs were found on board (just empty baggies). He did, however, admit to smoking marijuana and drinking, NBC News reports. Remember, he's 19 years old, so drinking is a no-no.

We'll just have to wait and see whether this incident tailspins into yet another string of criminal charges for Bieber.

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