$15,000 candy buy intended for resale
Tuesday, October 23, 2001
By PETER POCHNA and MITCHEL MADDUX
Staff WritersA man who used cash to buy $15,000 worth of candy from Costco stores in Hackensack and Wayne last week is not suspected of any terrorist activity, the FBI said Monday.
"We do not have any evidence that suggests that the purchases of these items was not for legitimate purposes," said Sandra Carroll, an FBI spokeswoman in Newark.
Carroll said the FBI has accounted for all of the candy, which local police said was bought "for resale purposes."
The buyer was described by a law enforcement source as a foreign national who was being held by the INS for immigration law reasons.
The INS refused to comment, however, and Carroll would say only that the man was being detained "for reasons unrelated to the purchases."
Large purchases at the grocery and home goods wholesaler are common, but the size and nature of the candy acquisition prompted suspicion. Officials at Costco's national headquarters near Seattle called the FBI, after hearing from a local Costco manager who sent them a videotape from a security camera.
News reports about the incident generated concern about the safety of Halloween candy. Hackensack police Capt. Frank Lomia said his office was deluged Monday morning with calls from concerned parents and national and international media outlets.
Lomia, in turn, called the FBI directly.
"We're happy that we can pass on the word that fears about this incident were unfounded," Lomia said.
The incident, combined with general concern about Halloween, prompted city Police Chief Charles "Ken" Zisa to suggest last week that school officials send a notice to parents advising precautions.
Hackensack Schools Superintendent Joseph Montesano said Monday that he was relieved to learn the outcome of the incident. He said he expected that the school district would send home a notice with students anyway.
"We'll probably ask parents to be diligent about looking at their kids' trick-or-treat goodies," Montesano said.
Concern about Halloween has spread nationwide. In Arkansas, Gov. Mike Huckabee has suggested that children stay home next Wednesday night because nervous parents might overwhelm police with requests to examine candy.
Carroll suggested the public be calm but cautious. If the FBI learns of any genuine health hazard, she emphasized, citizens would be alerted.
"The public will be notified of credible information that poses a health issue or concern," she said.
--Bergen Record
It would not be unheard of for a Middle-Easterner to own a small grocery store. I see small businessmen all the time in Costco buying cigarettes in bulk; buying candy with Halloween coming up does not sound all that weird. I wondered if this isn't how it was going to turn out.
Just the same, deporting him for a visa violation doesn't sound all that weird either. Out with him, just to be sure.
And his 2,500 grand children.