FBI Probe in North Louisiana

knoe.com ^ | 02/22/06 | Gina Swanson

[Ellesu]

The FBI is conducting a large scale investigation into north Louisiana convenience stores with ties to the Middle East. As TV8's Gina Swanson reports the Department of Homeland Security is in on the sting operation involving stores in at least four parishes.

They seized evidence by the box full. The FBI on Wednesday searched at least a half dozen convenience stores in North Louisiana. All with ties to the Middle East. The probe led agents to stores in Tallulah, Lake Providence, Monroe and Ruston. Law enforcement sources confirm that the stores are suspected of involvement in money laundering or counterfeiting. The Department of Homeland Security has sent agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or Ice, to work the case. At each station, agents seized boxes of evidence and retrieved at least one weapon. Police sources say at least some of the gas station operators are from Yemen. An Arab country located just south of Saudi Arabia. ULM history professor John Sutherlin believes the arab heritage of the convenience store owners could make them a convenient target for terror suspects. "Anytime Arab or Muslim people are involved people immediately think it must be terror related or have some connection to 9-11," Sutherlin says. The investigation reaches beyond Louisiana. TV8 news has confirmed the FBI and department of homeland security Wednesday also raided stores in Buffalo, New York.

[TheHound]

Most interesting.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

It's all coming together....

[bayourant]

I know one of the guys that operated the store in Ruston that was on TV lol. He is a pretty nice guy. My ex messed up on the check book and I bounced a 50 dollar check to him. Gave me some time to pay it off. I saw the report and knoe might be jumping the gun a little. Seems alot has to deal with cigarettes.

[BIGZ]

Our Government will not let Americans accumulate enough money to start a small business. The gas stations and liquor stores are all owned rag heads, the donut shops and cash businesses are all owned by Orientals. Citco( owned by Venezuela ) has opened another station near my residence. Day laborers from Mexico block my street every day.

.What the hell is going on?

[Ben Hecks]

Bump to one of the founding fathers of FR ; )

[NautiNurse]

Our Government will not let Americans accumulate enough money to start a small business.

I started my own small business ten years ago, with no assistance beyond my own hard work and ingenuity. That's what going on.

[dandiegirl]

I read right after 911 that one of the main leaders of Hamas went to school at LA Tech in Ruston. There is also a mosque that's no longer used near the Tech campus.

[visualops]

Our Government will not let Americans accumulate enough money to start a small business

That's a really ignorant statement lol. The only thing keeping people from having their own business is themselves.

[bayourant]

Really I think that Mosque is still in use. Its a pretty big one right off I think Arizona. By the ole Kappa Sig house. I went once I was interested in hiring someone for arabic lessons when I was considering applying to Halliburton

[bayourant]

On a sort of unrelated note its hush hush but one of the 911 hijackers was living in Shreveport. I knew the guy that saw him and consulted him legally. And not a word of it in the 911 report.

[Minus_The_Bear]

Had to be a network of support in place.

[bayourant]

Yeah I have my own reasons to believe the reason that it was not open to the public that he was here. I believe that he might have been seeing some Air Force Girl at the Base. My understanding was she was not Moslem.It was innocent but that would have been extremely embarrasing for the AF. On a side note the Guy decided to tell his story. He went to clear with "officals" in HOuston. Driving back he mysteriously came down with a horrible blood poisining. Needless to say he didnt publish the book. Its pretty common knowledge by many in shreveport. Plus this guy was a Denist not some quack/.

[WKB]

Coming to a MS Conv store near you ping.

[dandiegirl]

That's very interesting. I drove by after 911, I had never seen it. It looked closed, but I really didn't know.

[dandiegirl]

I haven't heard that. That's scary. With Barksdale AFB there and ironically that's where Bush landed on 911.

[bayourant]

I knew several people that went there. The closest person being my economic teacher. Ruston struck me of having a pretty high number of non observant muslims lol. . MOst seemed to be obsessed with rap music and blonds

[bayourant]

Yeah I def believe it. I know the PI that helped him with the FBI interview. I suspect it was mentioned to the 911 committee in secret session. Again its well known since after the guy was poisioned he proceeded to tell a few people in town. However never a word in the papers.

[somniferum]

I always joke to my friends that Saddam should have fled Iraq, moved to Tunica, and opened a gas station. Wouldn't have found him in a million years. And if they did.. well.. that would make for one hillarious headline.

[penelopesire]

Thanks for the ping WKB. Been gone a few days. This should be pinged to the 'threat matrix' group here on Freepers. I will be glad to do it, if no one has had a chance yet....just let me know.