Large candy purchases investigated by FBI

Bergen NJ Record ^ | October 20, 2001 | MITCHEL MADDUX and PETER POCHNA

[spycatcher]

The FBI said Friday that it is investigating the cash purchase of "large quantities" of candy from Costco stores in Hackensack and Wayne.

"We have been advised and we are looking into the incident of a gentleman buying large quantities of candy," said Sandra Carroll, an FBI spokeswoman in Newark.

Carroll declined to identify the purchaser, but indicated that he is in federal custody for immigration law reasons not related to the purchase of the candy.

"I cannot comment on INS detainees," Carroll said.

Carroll said it would be premature to draw conclusions about the purchaser's intent for the candy, which agents had not found by Friday night. She declined to describe the candy.

"We have no evidence or information for us to suspect there is any reason to cancel scheduled events," Carroll said when asked if the FBI had concerns about the safety of Halloween. "However, the public is encouraged to remain alert but calm."

Hackensack police took a report from Costco about the candy purchase at the Hackensack store at 11:40 a.m. Wednesday. The police then contacted the FBI.

"They told us to stay out of it," said Hackensack Police Chief Charles "Ken" Zisa.

Zisa said the FBI had already learned about the purchase. A local Costco manager had reported the incident to corporate headquarters, near Seattle, and had sent a videotape from a store security camera, Zisa said.

An official at Costco's corporate headquarters said Friday night that no one was available to comment on the matter. Another Costco official, who declined to be identified, said such large purchases from the chain of wholesale grocery and household goods stores are not uncommon.

Kerry Gill, a spokesman for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service in Newark, said he could not discuss the case because of confidentiality policies.

[Sabertooth]

Click the link for info on:

Smallpox threat potential
to Halloween candy

[Le-Roy]

Thank you very much for your efforts, and sharing the benefits of your learning. I have already seen the other thread, it was a good decision on your part.

I have been away from FR most of the day (business and family), but am still currently trying to substantiate the other story of the candy bought and then returned to a Sam's Club.

Again, thank you for taking the time to alert others of this possibility.

[editor-surveyor]

"After they left they found out their Costco i.d was fake"

Here's the real deal:

It's impossible to make a purchase at a Costco store without a VALID, non-expired, member number.
The computer will kick back the number if it is not valid.

[SunnyUsa]

The real deal.....

you are so right!

They would've had to filled out another COSCO ID

I know this happened to me when mine was expired and they made me go over to the membership desk to get a new one before they'd complete the transaction.

There was NO buying it with CASH ~pass/go~ card!

[spycatcher]

Anyone who can get a forged passport can get a Costco ID under someone else's name. I'm sure they don't have CIA level security there. But who knows, maybe that part of the story is just a rumor. Nothing official was released on the means or amount of purchase. Probably third hand from a clerk who overheard the info.

[Terriergal]

This is along the lines of something I was thinking. How hard would it be for a terrorist to get a job at say, Hershey's chocolate plant and sprinkle a little anthrax on the bars just before they get wrapped? A much more sinister version of the cyanide in tylenol and razor blades in chocolate bars...?

[Terriergal]

I've been wondering when food contamination was coming ...looks like it is already being attempted.

Yeah. And what about that story about the mean Israelis that accidentally killed a 12 yr old girl in their strikes against the palestinians? Monsters.

We all know that honorable terrorists like the Arabs wouldn't target innocent children.

/sarcasm

[editor-surveyor]

" I'm sure they don't have CIA level security there."

They have something much better, they have CREDIT BUREAUS, and membership requirements with regard to type of employment that makes one elligible. - Stolen cards are voided immediately upon notification, and police are called when attempts are made to use stolen IDs. - They even have reserved police only parking stalls at the door.

[spycatcher]

Maybe Costco should run the INS, since they always know the actual identity and status of every person within their borders! I guess they must use real-time face recognition with eye scanning and voice pattern identification.