Posted on 02/02/2002 7:31:52 AM PST by veronica
Osama bin Laden's terrorist network is operating right now in Central Florida. Some local businesses are helping fund Al-Qaida activities.
Channel 9 Eyewitness News has confirmed that hundreds of law enforcement officials are tracking a terrorist cell that works right here in Central Florida.
Here is how they say operation works.
Al-Qaida groups launder money through legal businesses right here in Central Florida. The money is then transferred to off-shore accounts in the Bahamas or the Caribbean. The money winds up in Afghanistan and other countries, funding terrorism.
Orlando is on the map for tourists. Now a new book, American Jihad: The Terrorists Living Among Us, says Al-Qaida sleeper cells are here. Something the local terrorism task force admits to.
With NASA, the Air Force and world's top tourist attractions all nearby, Central Florida is a target rich environment for Al-Qaida terrorists. With a fast growing community both legal and illegal business is a wide-open opportunity. The local terrorism task force sources say Osama bin Laden created Al-Qaida cells in Orlando selling legal and illegal goods as a way to fund his organization.
"There are definite connections and definite investigations underway. We have to solve a puzzle and dot all the i's cross all the t's. But this will happen and it will protect lives and save us from lot's of headaches," said Orange County Sheriff Beary, who is on the local terrorism task force.
Sheriff Beary says he's always considered Central Florida a high-risk area because of the world class assets here.
Channel 9 Eyewitness News has learned that hundreds of agents are in Central Florida trying to root-out the terrorists. So far, we're told investigators have been successful at shutting down Al-Qaida's ability to make money on drugs or guns.
Since it's virtually impossible to ship money to banks in the Bahamas the use to bin Laden is limited. Still, the terrorists are living among us.
"In nine counties there's a lot going on," Beary said. "We get a lot of raw intelligence and the feds are also looking at suspects and running down leads."
The author of the book, Steven Emerson, is one of the nation's top experts on terrorism.
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