Connecting the Dots: One Pre-Incident Intelligence Indicator
Suspicious Purchases of Pre-Paid Cellular Telephones Concerns Authorities
The DHS and FBI issued a "Joint Information Bulletin" on February 7, 2006 about suspicious bulk cellular telephone purchases.
9 May 2006: One important aspect on combating terrorists inside the U.S. is to collect and analyze data pertaining to potential and known terrorists and possible event preparation behavior by such individuals without limitation to any specific geographical area. An equally important aspect is to properly inform and educate the public about what to look for in terms of potentially suspicious behavior by anyone, regardless of their race, gender or appearance as we know our enemy is (and has in the past) used "lily whites" to provide operational support and even engage in acts of terrorism themselves. It is for the reasons above that this web site exists and is so extensively visited. It is for the same reasons that the following article, written by reporter Kathryn F. Pickard of the Clarke County Democrat from Grove Hill, Alabama and published on May 4, 2006 is extremely timely and important. The original article can be accessed via EXTERNAL LINK (Clarke County, AL Democrat).
Research conducted by investigators of the Northeast Intelligence Network into of the events described by Ms. Pickard confirmed that during the last week of April, an adult male of Middle Eastern origin and further identified as a subject who had been in recent contact with a "person or persons of interest" was stopped by Clarke County Deputy Ron Baggett in front of the Clarke County Courthouse. The traffic stop originated when an astute and concerned citizen contacted Clarke County 911 to report that an adult male of Middle Eastern appearance purchased all of the pre-paid cellular TracPhones from the Dollar General Store in Jackson, Alabama. The number of the telephones purchased was estimated at about 400. It is relevant to note that terrorists have been known to utilize pre-paid cellular telephones for a number of purposes, from difficult-to-trace communication purposes to their use as detonation devices for improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
The man stopped by Deputy Baggett was identified as Mohammed HAIF, who, when stopped, acted as if he was lost and reportedly pointed at a navigational system in the car he was driving. He then told the deputy that "he was trying to get to Dollar General." After a brief dialogue with the deputy, HAIF reportedly gave Deputy Baggett permission to search his vehicle, which resulted in finding the large quantity of cellular TracPhones.
As detailed in the original article, Deputy Steve Carlisle, who joined Baggett in the investigation, and Baggett interviewed HAIF, asking why he had purchased so many TracPhones. HAIF reportedly stated that he already had them sold to a man in California he identified as Mohammed FARHAT for $3.00 over the purchase price of each phone. FARHAT, it was discovered, has reportedly been under investigation for "terrorist activity." Investigation by Deputy Baggett revealed that HAIF drove from Houston to Jackson, Alabama, which meant he paid rent on the car, bought the gas, had at least a $900 navigational system in the car and purchased the large number of prepaid TracPhones. The deputy stated that based on the economics alone, he knew something was wrong and accordingly, contacted the FBI.
The FBI's terrorist division sent officers to Grove Hill who interviewed HAIF, who told them he did not know why FARHAT wanted the phones, but that he (HAIF) was trying to make money. The agents told Deputy Baggett that although FARHAT had been under investigation for terrorist activity, HAIF had done nothing illegal and they subsequently released him.
RELATED: As reported in the February 20, 2006 HQ INTEL-ALERT Private Intelligence Report, there have been numerous suspicious bulk cellular telephone purchases across the U.S.
On 7 February 2006, the DHS and FBI issued a "Joint Information Bulletin" outlining the concern relating to suspicious bulk cellular telephone purchases.
Incidents: Within the last few months, numerous suspicious actual and attempted bulk purchases of pre-paid cellular telephones (specifically TracFone and Virgin Mobile) models were reported to law enforcement agencies across the United States. The most common points of sale were box retail stores such as WalMart, Target and Best Buy.
Focus: Terrorists based in the US might employ the phones for two purposes:
1. Untraceable communications: Specifically, terrorists inside the U.S. could use "disposable" cellular telephones for primary and virtually untraceable communications between operatives and cells. These phones are used for short periods or for a specific purpose before the user discards them. Many emerging technologies permit Internet access and phones with integral cameras for surveillance purposes.
2. Fundraising: (Related FBI Intelligence Bulletin #167, New patterns of al Qaeda Financing issued 25 May 2005): As the sources of terrorist fundraising are being continually disrupted by the efforts of our government, potential terrorists turn to other and more innovative methods of raising cash. Terrorists in the U.S. frequently engage in the sale of commodities of funding, including the sale of untaxed cigarettes (obtained from Indian reservations), drugs, weapons, diamonds and gold. With regard to pre-paid cellular telephones, buyers take advantage of discounted prices and resell the telephones for profit, primarily over the Internet or by shipping the phones abroad. It is important to note that prepaid cellular telephones are valued abroad because their software can be modified in a manner that allows access to foreign cellular networks. The software and instructions required to perform these modifications are readily available over the internet.
3. Other Potential Uses: Cellular telephones and their components have been used in the construction of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The bombs used in the fatal bombings in Madrid, Spain were detonated by triggers made from cellular telephones. Notably, mass quantities of cellular telephones would NOT be required for such purposes.
Methods: Purchasers of cellular phones will frequently make smaller, multiple purchases or make purchases from different outlets of the same store to circumvent the disposable/prepaid cellular telephone restrictions imposed by the retailers. In many cases, the same individuals also used either gift cards or cash to purchase the cellular phones in an effort to conceal their identity.
October 2005: Massachusetts: Same male purchased approximately $5,000 worth of disposable cellular telephones from five area Wal-Mart stores.
November 2005: California: In Los Angeles, a male-female couple purchased at least twenty-(20) cellular telephones at a time (multiple purchases).
November 2005: At a single Wal-mart store, several closely related subjects purchased upwards of 100 prepaid cellular telephones in a 24-hour period.
December 2005: Illinois: Known male with possible terrorist connections purchased twelve-(12) prepaid cellular telephones
December 2005: Texas: Sixty-(60) prepaid cellular telephones were purchased by six Middle Eastern men from a Wal-Mart store in Midland, Texas. The men were identified and at least two were found to be on the government's terrorist watch list.
December 2005: Maryland: Subject purchased 54 pre-paid cellular telephones at one Radio Shack store.
December 2005: Ohio: Male purchased thirty-(3) prepaid cellular telephones at a Walgreen's store.
January 2006: California: Male purchased 150 prepaid TracFones from various stores of a retail chain in the Los Angeles area.
January 2006: New York Known male subject purchased six-(6) T-Mobile pre-paid cellular telephones from a Target store in the Kingston/Jamaica area.
January 2006: New York: At the Wal-Mart store in Newburgh, a male-female couple purchased 36 TracFones.
January 2006: New York: Police in Colonie, NY received a report that a male and female, acting individually but known to be related, purchased 31 pre-paid cellular telephones from the Target department store.
January 2006: New York: nearly two-dozen empty TracFone packages were found discarded in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart store in Fishkill, NY.
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