[null and void]

Yes. They were going to multiple walmarts, buy quantities just below the reporting threshold, and stripping them out of the packaging in the back of the van while in transit.

They claimed that they were buying them at retail in the US to sell on behalf of the prophet at a profit in Swarthistan.

Nothing to see here, move along...™

[unspun]

They claimed that they were buying them at retail in the US to sell on behalf of the prophet at a profit in Swarthistan.

If they weren't given back so the Feds could trace them and catch the big fish, it's just one more reason to send Michael Chertoff back to the bosom of Rudy Giuliani and New Jersey.