Suitcases Full of Cash On Plane (New Mexico)

ABQ journal ^ | 12/5/03

[Hildy]

This sounds like that movie, KNOCKAROUND GUYS...anyone see it?

[EUPHORIC]

It's messed up that we live in a society where the authorities automatically go after a suitcase full of cash, regardless of whether it is known to be involved in anything illegal. I'm wondering what the threshold of suspicion is, that is, how much cash can I carry without being detained by the gendarmes on suspicion of drug smuggling?

Are you naturally that ignorant or have you been indoctrinated into that state of mind?

[EUPHORIC]

Right on, Buddy. The ironic thing is that this money probably came straight from Rush Limbaugh's pockets.

Nah. Just an interest payment on Clinton's latest payola round.

[Joe Hadenuf]

and it has been determined that he is here illegally, said Leticia Zamarripa, public information liaison for the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection in El Paso.

Our country is so infested with people that are here illegally.

It is f-ing out of control.......

[leadpenny]

How do you post at 8:47pm Eastern on 5Dec and not sign up until 6Dec03?

[Cvengr]

I wonder if they tested the bank teller with the sniffles who transacted the cash to be tested.

[Travis McGee]

Penny for your thoughts.

[geopyg]

Kamlesh Rana? Yuri Folks?

Yeah - I think those are both historically considered Norwegian names, or perhaps Swedish. ;-)

[onyx]

A nickle for yours.

[Travis McGee]

I think the published flight plan and the intended flight plan were not one and the same.

[onyx]

I think the published flight plan and the intended flight plan were not one and the same.

I wish I'd thought of that, because I think you're right. Good going, Trav.

[eno_]

In either event, one would have probable cause to suspect foul play was involved, I suppose.

Very sad. So there is no presumption that having cash is none of the government's G.D. business?

[eno_]

Are you naturally sexually aroused by the smell of fresh polish on jackboots, or were your indoctrinated to lick them?

[okie01]

"Very sad. So there is no presumption that having cash is none of the government's G.D. business?"

Can you give me a totally innocent reason why somebody would be carrying around that much cash -- aside from terminal eccentricity?

The presumption is warranted because there is roughly a 100-to-1 shot that somebody is involved in criminal activity -- including terrorism.

[EUPHORIC]

Are you naturally sexually aroused by the smell of fresh polish on jackboots, or were your indoctrinated to lick them?

Nah. I'll leave the sick screwball fetishes up to you and your ilk.

[eno_]

The correct question is (or so our Founders thought): "Why should the government be allowed to sieze cash just because it exists in a large amount?"

In other words, how much wealth am I allowed to transport or accumulate before I am presumed to be a criminal.

John Ashcroft's answer is "Enough to open a business checking account." since now the FBI can require any business to turn over any records or documents without a warrant. If that is not a complete travesty of "being secure in documents and effects" then what is?

[CedarDave]

Sign up date and time appears to be Zulu or GMT time -- time at Greenwich, England and the universal time for use by aviation, weather services and, apparently, this forum. Since it is five (EST), six(CST), seven(MST) or eight(PST) hours ahead of local time, one can easily sign up after 4 p.m. today (12/6) in LA and be shown as a member since 12/7 when you highlight his/her name.

[leadpenny]

GMT would do it. Thanks.

[HighWheeler]

There is another issue here.

If these two people on board were truly unaware of the extra 300 pound load on board, especially the pilot, this could have caused the plane to stall on landing after the tanks were nearly empty.

Having a tail-heavy, light plane is a fast way to die.

There should be a trail of manifests for this particular plane which describes a 300 pound load being placed on board, and who wanted it there.

Otherwise, I suspect someone on the maintenance crew somewhere wanted this plane to be used for covert shipment.

[cynicom]

Ezz not my zootcase.