Large candy purchases investigated by FBI

N.J. news ^ | October 20, 2001 | MITCHEL MADDUX and PETER POCHNA

[concerned about politics]

Large candy purchases investigated by FBI

The FBI said Friday that it is investigating the cash purchase of "large quantities" of candy from Costco stores in Hackensack and Wayne.

"We have been advised and we are looking into the incident of a gentleman buying large quantities of candy," said Sandra Carroll, an FBI spokeswoman in Newark.

Carroll declined to identify the purchaser, but indicated that he is in federal custody for immigration law reasons not related to the purchase of the candy.

"I cannot comment on INS detainees," Carroll said.

Carroll said it would be premature to draw conclusions about the purchaser's intent for the candy, which agents had not found by Friday night. She declined to describe the candy.

"We have no evidence or information for us to suspect there is any reason to cancel scheduled events," Carroll said when asked if the FBI had concerns about the safety of Halloween. "However, the public is encouraged to remain alert but calm."

Hackensack police took a report from Costco about the candy purchase at the Hackensack store at 11:40 a.m. Wednesday. The police then contacted the FBI.

"They told us to stay out of it," said Hackensack Police Chief Charles "Ken" Zisa.

Zisa said the FBI had already learned about the purchase. A local Costco manager had reported the incident to corporate headquarters, near Seattle, and had sent a videotape from a store security camera, Zisa said.

An official at Costco's corporate headquarters said Friday night that no one was available to comment on the matter. Another Costco official, who declined to be identified, said such large purchases from the chain of wholesale grocery and household goods stores are not uncommon.

Kerry Gill, a spokesman for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service in Newark, said he could not discuss the case because of confidentiality policies.

[concerned about politics]

Creepy. This year, the kids are hitting the houses we know.
The chance of a terrorist passing out candy is __%, but I'm still not willing to take the chance.
Maybe next year.

[Fixit]

Very creepy.

I have to tell you that when I first saw the headline I expect this to be filed under the humor category, something a like a joke relating to Halloween being "suspicious people running around in masks" and all that.

Now I sort of wish it really was in the humor category.

[Ziva]

Funny, I was in the Hackensack Costco the day before. Zisa, by the way, is a Democrat NJ Assemblyman (whom I ran against 2 years ago) as well as the so-called full-time police chief in Hackensack. His so-called "Republican" brother is the mayor of Hackensack. Yes, it does smell. He is now running for county sheriff in the election this Nov. 6.

[aristeides]

Wiser to avoid trick-or-treating this year. These creeps might find a way to get adulterated candy into the stores.

[tbeatty]

INS violations? Do you think the alert Costco employees may have engaged in racial profiling?

[cgbg]

I didn't notice the article mentioning the nationality of the voracious sweet-tooth.

Undoubtedly it was an oversight and not motivated by political correctness--not.

I have been waiting for the terrorists to target children. In Israel they love to attack school buses. Since they view all Americans as foreign occupiers on their planet and since they love to hit civilian targets all they see here is one big free-fire zone.

[oceanperch]

Well thats it I am canceling my Sees Christmas Candy Order. I fit the profile.

[concerned about politics]

Wow. I forgot about Christmas too. I'll make my own candy for Christmas now. Whew! Thanks!

[Mo1]

Creepy. This year, the kids are hitting the houses we know

DITTO HERE ...

[AfghanAirShow]

"I have to tell you that when I first saw the headline I expect this to be filed under the humor category, something a like a joke relating to Halloween being "suspicious people running around in masks" and all that."

It's also chilling for those of us here in the Houston area who are old enough to remember Ronald Clark O'Bryan -- the guy who poisoned his kid's Halloween candy to collect insurance money. Even though it was directed towards his child and not the ones coming to the door, it was several years before people in this area could put it behind us and be kids again (sort of) on October 31st.

[concerned about politics]

Color me paranoid folks, but maybe you should pass this news around. I worry for the children.
please, not the kids!

[Ban Draoi]

Wait until these morons attack a school bus or school like they do in Israel.

The first time they try that sh*t here in Louisiana, the locals will pick up baseball bats, rope, and guns and head down to LSU and lynch every Arab they see.

This will be a first: the first time that blacks and whites cooperate in a lynching.

[Fee]

You yahoos better not try it until you can figure out who is a Sikh, Indian, Turk, Indonesians, Malaysians, Christian Arabs (who fled Arab Muslim religious prosecution), Sri Lankians, etc and etc. You might end up hurting innocent foreign looking students and making new enemies for the US. Anti-US liberal American professors on the other hand are a different story. We know who they are. Homeland defense begins with the home front secured from 5th columnists.

[lelio]

How much candy is "a lot" ... they sell it by the truckfull!

[concerned about politics]

How much candy is "a lot" ... they sell it by the truckfull!

Hackensack police took a report from Costco .........The company must have found the cash payment odd, or maybe the amount was more than usual. For some reason, the company thought it was enough to make a call.

[germanshepherd]

These creeps might find a way to get adulterated candy into the stores.

That is my concern, and then we would be unwitting distributors. I still think money would be better this year. I've already been flamed for suggesting a dime! How about a fifty cent piece?

[concerned about politics]

. I've already been flamed for suggesting a dime! How about a fifty cent piece?

We ran out of candy once, so we made baggies of odd change. The kids thought it was great, but I'm sure it looked like more than it really was.

[oceanperch]

Festive Fudge Ingredients:
3 cups (18-ounce) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (14-ounce) can Eagle(r) Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk (NOT evaporated milk)
Dash salt
1/2 to 1 cup chopped nuts, optional
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Line 8- or 9-inch square pan with foil. Butter foil; set aside.
Line medium-sized heavy saucepan, over low heat; melt chips with Eagle Brand and salt.
Remove from heat; stir in nuts if desired and the vanilla. Spread evenly into prepared pan.
Chill 2 hours or until firm. Turn fudge onto cutting board; peel off foil and cut into squares. Store covered in refrigerator.
Yield: about 2 pounds.
Peanut Butter Glazed Fudge: Omit nuts. Stir 3/4-cup peanut butter flavored chips in with vanilla. Spread in pan and chill as above.
For glaze, in small saucepan, melt 1/2-cup peanut butter flavored chips with 1/2 cup whipping cream; stir until thick and smooth. Spread over chilled fudge.
Chill. Cut and store as above.
Marshmallow Fudge: Omit nuts.
Stir 2 tablespoons butter in with vanilla. Fold in 2 cups miniature marshmallows. Proceed as above.
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Chilling Time: 2 hours* * *

[SunnyUsa]

"For some reason, the company thought it was enough to make a call." I'm glad they did! It must've been suspicious, and they think we are STUPID!

The FREE RIDE for the terrorist bastards has to be OVER - it's them or us - and we can't forget it!

[cherry]

Wiser to avoid trick-or-treating this year. These creeps might find a way to get adulterated candy into the store

this is what I recently heard from a very respected person who works with a large mortgage company that deals across the country:...basically a close friend who she works with has a sister who lives back east near NY and had a boyfriend of MIddle- eastern heritage.....he left abruptly before the WTC bombings but had sent her a letter that said to stay away from the WTC's on Sept.11 and not to go to the malls on Halloween...the FBI has that letter now....so it is no joke...they are planning something....