Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Secret vaults Gold, arms and seized drugs in huge basement
The Guardian ^ | Nov 2, 2001 | AUDREY GILLAN

Posted on 11/02/2001 6:52:56 AM PST by CommiesOut

Twin towers treasure trove a lure for looters: Secret vaults Gold, arms and seized drugs in huge basement
The Guardian - United Kingdom; Nov 2, 2001
BY AUDREY GILLAN IN NEW YORK

The vaults below the complex that was the World Trade Centre were a vast and secret place. Not only did they hold some of the world's largest gold depositories, but they were home to stashes belonging to the CIA and secret service.

Seventy feet below ground is an array of goods that includes bricks of cocaine, fake taxi cabs used for covert operations, bomb-proof state cars and security files meant for the eyes of the CIA only - nice booty for potential looters.

As Brink's-Mat security vans brought out Dollars 200m (pounds 137m) of gold from a safety store below 4 World Trade Centre, which was on the east side of the ruined complex, it emerged that someone had tried to get into the vaults, no doubt with robbery in mind.

Two weeks ago a security guard spotted scorch marks on a basement doorway which had not been noticed by a patrol team a few hours before. Behind the door were thousands of tonnes of gold and silver. It looked like someone had used a blowtorch and a crowbar and it prompted concerns that they may try to do so again. Video surveillance systems have now been installed.

As they dig amid the rubble, recovery workers are uncover ing corridors and gangways that lead to the cavernous vaults below. The 16-acre basement has enough square footage to fill a building of greater proportion than the Empire State building. Engineers and recovery officials say that large parts of the underground storage rooms are undamaged.

Since September 11 very little has been said about the treasures that lie below what has become a mass grave. But down there are piles of old furniture, a mountain of Godiva chocolates, stacks of illegal assault weapons, as well as jewels and more gold and silver.

Beneath the customs house - 6 World Trade Centre - was a fleet of government vehicles, including dozens owned by the secret service. The cars were kept in a sealed-off area, part of which was a garage which housed a single armoured limousine used to carry heads of state and dignitaries visiting the city.

The building also housed an office of the CIA containing drugs, weapons and contraband seized by customs officers. The bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms also lost two evidence vaults, according to a spokesman.

"There could be several hundred weapons - somewhere between 200 and 400, ranging from small-calibre semi-automatic pistols to assault rifles," he told the New York Times.

He said agents plan to be on the scene when the remains of the building are demolished some time in the next two weeks. "After that, we'll be working at the landfill to search for any missing items."

All Material Subject to Copyright



TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-68 next last
To: GROUCHOTWO
"Any explanation for 'fake taxicabs used for covert operations'??"

I'd be willing to bet that among other things, these cabs were used to transport drugs to their mules. Mark my words.

21 posted on 11/02/2001 10:49:38 AM PST by JRadcliffe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

Comment #22 Removed by Moderator

Comment #23 Removed by Moderator

To: CommiesOut
Bump! Good find.
24 posted on 11/02/2001 12:11:16 PM PST by Aerial
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Aerial
Aerial:

I "barrowed" your link to the site containing the evidence of CIA involvement in cocaine trafficing. I hope you don't mind, but I could not resist. (The devil made me do it)

25 posted on 11/02/2001 12:16:00 PM PST by JRadcliffe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: CommiesOut
Why are confiscated drugs stored? Why aren't they destroyed?
26 posted on 11/02/2001 12:24:47 PM PST by NC_Libertarian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: tex-oma
JRadcliffe nailed in in #18, IMO. What else is to be said?
27 posted on 11/02/2001 12:25:11 PM PST by LSJohn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: CommiesOut
The bricks of cocaine are worth FAR more then the bricks of gold. Hmmmmmmm.
28 posted on 11/02/2001 12:28:04 PM PST by NC_Libertarian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JRadcliffe
Shoot...I'm proud...:)
29 posted on 11/02/2001 12:29:16 PM PST by Aerial
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: JRadcliffe
Sometime in the last year there was a drug operation busted that led them to several thousand (afluent) users of cocaine in New York city. They got a warning letter.
30 posted on 11/02/2001 12:29:46 PM PST by NC_Libertarian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: NC_Libertarian
I heard about that little "incident". But as I understand it, the police were going to arrest them, but they screamed so loudly about their "influence" that the thugs backed down. I'm sure a few well-placed calls didn't hurt either.

American -- land of the free (but ONLY if you're rich and powerful enough)

Everyone else is just cannon fodder for their little turf wars.

31 posted on 11/02/2001 12:45:12 PM PST by JRadcliffe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: CommiesOut
This explains why the Mayor wanted the firefighters gone! They were getting to the really dicey stuff. Imagine the secrets under the ruble. Somebody is sweating.....
32 posted on 11/02/2001 12:49:41 PM PST by hove
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CommiesOut
Um...none of this stuff is really a "secret", everyone here knows there's a whole lot of interesting crap in the WTC underground. It was fairly well publicized after the 1993 bombing. Should I be surprised to hear that DRUGS can be found under the U.S. Customs building?
33 posted on 11/02/2001 1:21:54 PM PST by hellinahandcart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #34 Removed by Moderator

To: malador
That's pretty much what I was getting at. A gram of cocaine goes for around $75. So they'll probably grab it before the gold. Man these guys are makeing a fortune with this WOD racket.
35 posted on 11/02/2001 4:29:24 PM PST by NC_Libertarian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: tex-oma; JRadcliffe; annalex
Never fear; I'm sure they'll find a way to 'splain it all away...

annalex, do you have that bump list of yours handy?

36 posted on 11/02/2001 4:35:07 PM PST by MadameAxe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: A.J.Armitage
I think we should all keep in mind this is coming from The Guardian, a paper that is rabidly anti-American (or at least anti-American government), and never hesitates to spin stories in order to make us look as bad as possible.
37 posted on 11/02/2001 4:40:12 PM PST by Timesink
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: JRadcliffe
Gee, I wish I was as smart as you!

I should'a figured this stuff out long ago.

Better get some sleep now so I don't miss any of tonight's Art Bell show.

38 posted on 11/02/2001 4:48:11 PM PST by GlesenerL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: tex-oma
Hmmm....didn't the Pervert and Mrs. Pervert move to NY for a purpose....ah yes......it is coming to me now......let me look a little loser at this crystal ball......yes, ah, yes.....a curved line......oh.......it is an "S"--it looks like the letter that comes after the R and before the T.....

My goodness.....Mrs. Pervert says the "S" stands for "Senator"......and the Pervert ......well, let's just say, "consider the 'S'ource"!!!

39 posted on 11/02/2001 4:49:24 PM PST by Rowdee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

Comment #40 Removed by Moderator


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-68 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson