Posted on 12/31/2002 12:28:34 AM PST by kattracks
Edited on 05/26/2004 5:10:54 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
December 31, 2002 -- A group of Islamic men who entered the country illegally on a possible terror mission got across the Canadian border thanks to a worldwide passport-forging operation, an FBI official said yesterday.
On Sunday, the FBI released photographs of five men being sought in connection with a larger investigation into illegal documents, such as passports and visas.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
***NATIONAL POST.com: "FBI HUNTING FOR FIVE FROM CANADA Agency Believes Men Crossed Border from North, Have Information on Terrorist Threat" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Ottawa has faced sharp criticism on its immigration policies since Ahmed Ressam, an Algerian who had claimed refugee status in Canada, was stopped by a U.S. border guard in 1999 trying to enter the state of Washington from British Columbia with a trunkload of explosives. He was later found to be a member of a Montreal cell of the Algerian Armed Islamic Group, which has strong ties to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, and was convicted of conspiring to blow up Los Angeles International Airport. There have also been calls to tighten immigration procedures after it was recently revealed that growing numbers of criminal and suspected terrorists were allowed into Canada last year on special permits issued by the federal government. At least 11 people who authorities believe have engaged in "terrorism, espionage or subversion by force" were granted permits that let them enter Canada despite having backgrounds that would normally keep them out -- a number that increased from two in 2000. Another 600 people convicted of a serious crime here or abroad were also among those admitted in 2001, up from 377 in 1999.") (123002)
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation is seeking the public's assistance in determining the whereabouts of the following individuals:ABID NORAIZ ALI, DOB AUGUST 15, 1977
IFTIKHAR KHOZMAI ALI, DOB SEPTEMBER 20, 1981
MUSTAFA KHAN OWASI, DOB NOVEMBER 12, 1969
ADIL PERVEZ, DOB DECEMBER 12, 1983
AKBAR JAMAL, DOB NOVEMBER 1, 1974The above identified individuals, whose names and dates of birth may be fictitious, are believed to have entered the United States illegally on or about December 24, 2002. Although the FBI has no specific information that these individuals are connected to any potential terrorist activities, based upon information developed in the course of on-going investigations, the FBI would like to locate and question these persons.
The FBI has been working with Homeland Security Agencies (U.S. Customs, INS, TSA) to locate these individuals. The above information has also been disseminated to the appropriate law enforcement agencies around the United States and throughout the world.
Anyone with any information pertaining to these individuals is asked to contact their nearest FBI office. Photographs of the these individuals can be found on the FBI's web site at www.FBI.gov." (122902)
***FBI.gov: SEEKING INFORMATION: "AMER EL-MAATI" akas "Amro Badr Eldin Abou El-Maati, Amro Badr Abouelmaati" (SEEKING INFORMATION POSTER SNIPPET: "Amer El-Maati is being sought in connection with possible terrorist threats in the United States."..."SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS")
***FBI.gov: MOST WANTED TERRORISTS: "IMAD FAYEZ MUGNIYAH" aka "Hajj" (WANTED POSTER SNIPPETS: "Mugniyah is the alleged head of the security apparatus for the terrorist organization, Lebanese Hizballah."..."The Rewards For Justice Program, United States Department of State, is offering a reward of up to $25 million for information leading directly to the apprehension and/or conviction of Imad Fayez Mugniyah."..."SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS")
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