Posted on 02/04/2005 4:12:38 PM PST by 4.1O dana super trac pak
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Babies and criminals now have something in common, an affinity for formula.
It's an expensive powder that is easily found on store shelves. Mothers feed their babies with it and criminals are making a killing off of it.
FBI agent Mike Sutton told NBC 17 he's busted two infant formula theft rings in the Triangle in the past 18 months.
In the most recent case, eight illegal immigrants pleaded guilty in federal court last month to stealing and reselling $2.5 million in baby formula.
"It is a multibillion-dollar criminal enterprise," Sutton said.
The suspects lived in apartments in Raleigh and Morrisville and spent their days shoplifting cans of formula.
"They may go in and steal three to four cans at a time and continue to do this," Sutton said. "It may be the only work they do."
According to the indictment of the men, the formula was kept in the suspects' apartments and a rented storage unit. It was then sold to a middleman or fencer.
"These fencers resell it to other individuals and have it repackaged and then sell it to stores...mostly private, independently owned stores," Sutton said.
The formula was trucked from Raleigh and Greensboro to the midwest, cities like Columbus, Ohio and Milwaukee, Wis.
Sutton said the case is far from closed.
"Some suspects have yet to be apprehended and one suspect is going to trial," Sutton said.
In December Wake County sheriff's deputies spotted a trailer with expired tags. They pulled it over and found various brands of baby formula inside, including Enfamil, Simulac and Nestle worth more than $60,000.
Two summers ago, FBI agents busted 20 people delivering stolen baby formula to a warehouse in downtown Raleigh.
Salah Abu-Gharbieh, a former Raleigh businessman, is serving nearly five years in federal prison for his role in that baby formula theft ring.
"Abu-Gharbieh was responsible for $13 million worth of stolen product in a three-year period," Sutton said.
Agents traced 200 of the shipments to Louisville, Ky. The recipient is still operating, but he has been indicted.
Where Does The Money Go?
At more than $20 a can, thieves recognize the cash cow.
"It's a way to get quick money," Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison said.
But who is profiting?
"The sale of Enfamil is tied in to terrorist activity," Deputy James Cadona, of the Wake County Sheriff's Department, told NBC 17. "The proceeds go to fund terrorism...there's a whole lot going on here."
Harrison agreed with his deputy's theory, saying profits from black market sales often are funneled into gang or terrorist activity.
Sutton stopped short of linking the baby formula rings and terrorism, but said it wouldn't surprise him.
"We believe that terrorist organizations are going to do whatever they can to acquire funding and they are going to use current criminal enterprises," Sutton said.
Authorities said the baby formula thieves might not even realize the money will end up going to terrorists.
Resold Formula Can Be Unsafe
Authorities say the innocent victims in the crime wave are the babies.
Mothers who buy the food off the black market or even legitimately from smaller stores may unknowingly feed their baby unsafe formula.
Sutton said the formula cans are not stored at room temperature and the labels are sometimes changed before the product ends up at small, independently owned stores.
"I think (parents) need to be concerned about where the product comes from," Sutton said.
"What if something happens and a child has to go to the hospital Or if it dies?" Harrison said.
Officials are urging parents not to buy formula if the can is dented or altered in any way because it might (not) be what is advertised.
-ping-
Black market formula manufactured in Saddam's suspicious "Baby Milk Factory."
I'm waiting for the public service commercial explaining if you buy formula from a small, independent store you're supporting terrorists.
This kind of thing is going on all over the country. All kinds of items are being stolen and re-sold in muslim-owned convenience stores and corner markets and the profits are financing "jihad". When the store is run by Habib or Achmed or Mohammed, they won't get my money.
You just gave me a flashback. I'd forgotten all about a particular scheme that was going on in So. Oregon before I moved from there over a couple years ago. The illegals were stealing formula from every store in town. If I remember the local cops caught a ring of them with boxes full of the stuff.
Don't know what ever happened. Our sheriff at that time was inclined to be "pc". The ones in this article could be the same ones!! LOL!
No one is comfortable in admitting some facts. I know it was hard for me to "get it" before I saw the ramifications of what a 3rd world community moving into the heart of your home town can do. Years ago I used to visit LA and thought it was quite "quaint". These illegals have lived their entire lives (the biggest percentage!)knowing nothing but lie, cheat and steal. They wouldn't have survived in the hell holes they escaped if they didn't. Family values don't stop at the border.
Legalize it.
This just doesn't make any sense. Come on, a terrorist network shoplifting baby formula, repackaging and reselling to finance their activities. Something about this whole story stinks to high heavens.
yep, next thing you know, they'll be playing with dolls.
Oh, wait...
I don't know about the shoplifting part.
I do know that a whole ring of muslim-operated convenience was rounded up in Cinncinnati a couple of years back - selling goods from hijacked shipments AND financing "jihad" with the profits. I know that it's going on in my city (which I won't name right now) and so does law enforcement.
I'm taking it seriously.
I've been told that in many stores baby formula is kept behind the counter now, you pick a card with the formula you want and give it to the cashier.
These guys are into every conceiveable scam and thievery known in this country. After all, it's not a crime stealing from the Infidel and using the proceeds to promote Allah. It's for a "good" cause!
Old thread on subject:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1169423/posts
Yes, this was in Charlotte. The cigarettes were then trucked to Michigan to be sold in the local mom and pop stores. Some of the guys came to the US on student visas, a couple were related and some married US women so they could stay in the US. They then started their 'business'. The guys were indicted and are getting three squares a day thanks to the taxpayers.
I do not doubt large scale terrorist efforts, nor that criminals are stealing baby formula for profit. I am saying, I cannot believe the supposition that terrorists are stealing baby formula to advance their cause. If this is the case we have some real problems, where organized crime is helping islamic terrorists - you just cannot de-can and re-can baby formula without the help of packaging people. Cigarettes I could understand, but baby formula - no way. I say again, there is something wrong with this story.
Calpernia do you recall a notice from Promed Mail in the past month, there were dead babies in another country, the cause was the canned formula.
I can't recall the country.
The last time they were busted in the U.S., they found the tools that were used to change the expiration dates on the cans.
>>>and some married US women
And Seneca Indians
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