13 Arrested In Port Canaveral FL Security Breach

local6.com ^

[Dbdaily]

13 Arrested In Port Canaveral Security Breach Illegal Immigrants Allegedly Use Fake Ids To Get Badges

Federal agents in Central Florida arrested 13 illegal immigrants for allegedly using fake IDs to gain access to highly sensitive and secure areas of Port Canaveral, according to Local 6 News.

A 2-month long investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement found that the men apparently used false social security numbers to get security badges. They then used the badges to gain access certain areas of Port Canaveral, according to authorities.

"Did they have unlimted access? No, they did not," Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokesman J.R. Miller said. "They had a specific badge that allowed them to come though the north secure gate and then go to the north port work area where the apprehensions were made."

While the incident appeared to be a major security breach, the U.S. Coast Guard said the men only took the first step for someone who had ill intentions.

"When you talk about the potential for maliciousness in the port, getting access in only the first and probably the smallest step," Port Canaveral Coast Guard spokeswoman Mary Ward said. "After that you have to contend with law enforcement -- many, many partner agencies who are in the port 365 days a year and 24 hours a day."

All of the men arrested Tuesday worked for H&M Industries, according to Local 6 News.

The illegal immigrants were transported to Orlando to face a judge Tuesday.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.

POSTED: 11:43 am EDT April 6, 2004 UPDATED: 12:43 pm EDT April 6, 2004

[dohcacr]

Port Canaveral is a major departure port for cruise lines. This may have been an attempt to lay the foundations to hijack a cruise liner.

http://cruises.affordabletours.com/search/advanced_search/?port=45

[Dbdaily]

Not to mention the south end of Cape Canaveral AFS. and
The Navy Staion at Port Canaveral for Trident Submarines.
But you would need a different badge to get on that side of the port. I hope..

[Steve_Seattle]

"This may have been an attempt to lay the foundations to hijack a cruise liner."

That seems like a good working theory, despite the - at this point - lack of evidence. The whole thing has a real bad smell to it; I'm surprised that so far this seems to be only a local story; or have the wires picked it up?

[freeangel]

Just doin the jobs--oh, never mind. I guess Jeb can welcome them with drivers licenses now.

[Ditto]

13 guys, probably just brothers from a big family doing some site seeing.

Sight seeing at Port Canaveral? Not many 'sights' there. My recollection is that it was a pretty shabby looking place.

I wonder if the Navy still puts in there. The last time I was there they had a nuke sub in port.

[Dbdaily]

Florida Today Article "Eight illegal aliens, all from Mexico"
Just some Illeagle Mexicans. No Story here..Move along

[CalifornianConservative]

Don't write it off so quick. Read up on some Chinese/Cuban subterfuge near there some time back. And don't ferget the WASP network and the Ana Montes arrest by the FBI in the wake of 9/11. Chinese presence in the Caribbean has been stepped up since their coup of our old military bases at both ends of the Panama canal. Also, Panamanians are complaining that their country has been overrun by Chinese immigrants and today report was that Chinese have been smuggled in to our country vis a vis Mexican border. Cosco, Chinese merchant marine, is in league with PLA.

[B4Ranch]

"The head of the Port Authority admits there are still flaws with their badging process. For instance, they rely on the FDLE to do background checks. But, they say, security is still much tighter since 9/11 and they continue to improve their badging system, including background checks."

Governor Bush, The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is doing a great job at protecting Port Canaveral, Florida. Everyone deserves a raise and an advancement. Since 9/11/2001 security has tightened significantly at all locations. All personel working on the docks are much safer now. sarcasm/

[CyberAnt]

"an awful lot of guys doing a lot of forgery, to get into a secure location"

Good point! Probably very accurate too.

Would these people have access to get a "container" into the USA ..?? I don't know the setup at the port, so I don't know if that might have figured in their plan.

[CyberAnt]

Wow! That's a great point. I have heard talk about cruise ships being a possible target.

[CyberAnt]

Well .. before 9/11 - would these people have been caught ..?? May not be perfect, but so many things are much better than they were.

[VeniVidiVici]

Same thing happened with some airlines not long ago.

Until the Feds get their act together concerning illegal aliens, this will just keep happening.