Let's see... The $20 Tracfones come with 40 minutes of airtime before you have to refill the minutes on them.
So I'd say that they could probably set off about 80 cell phone connected bombs with one dialing cell phone that has 40 minutes of air time on it. (if they can dial each number within 30 seconds)
80 bomb connected cell phones x $20 = $1600
1 dialing cell phone with 40 minutes of airtime x $20 = $20
I am not sure how much the explosives would cost... but chances are setting off 80 cell phone connected bombs is pretty darn cheap for the terrorists.
They wouldn't even use any of the airtime, all they would have to do is have the phone ring. With my prepaid if someone doesn't answer I don't get charged..
"One man was driving while the other two were in the back opening the phone packages with box cutters throwing the phones in one box, batteries in another and the packaging and phone charger in another container. The suspects had 1000 other cell phones in the van."
Later on in the article:
"They also told officers they get stopped frequently and say they buy the phones for $20 and sell them elsewhere for $38. They sell them without the packaging or charger."
The two from Dearborn arrested last week were also "reselling" the gutted phones, and they were charged with money laundering. Aside from figuring out what they're doing with the batteries, the other key, obviously, is who is buying the phones, at almost double the price, sans charger and perhaps sans batteries. Most likely the same person(s) who fronted these guys the money to buy the phones.