Counterfeiting funds terrorism

Law enforcement officials on Capitol Hill Wednesday told a House panel that the booming international trade in phony consumer goods is funding terrorism. Link

So, Bogalusa PD, this was not your best idea:

"We decided to just take the items off the street,” Culpepper said, adding both business are legitimate with the proper licenses. “It’s what they were doing that was the problem.” Link

Gee, Capt. Culpepper, I trust this isn't the way you approach drug dealing? Just take the drugs away, let the perps go? How 'bout armed robbery? Victim gets his money back, bad guy stays on the street?

I. Didn't. Think. So.

Counterfeiting funds terrorism. The Fox News article linked above is from 2003. This ain't nothin' new.

Friday's Daily News has a front-page article about a couple guys arrested while selling counterfeit items. Their names sound, oh, Middle-Eastern to me.

I wonder if their profits were staying in the USA - or if they were going overseas to buy explosives for IEDs to kill our soldiers and Iraqi citizens.

I'm sure it's difficult being a cop in a small town, where you've got to arrest your cousin or your in-laws. But you swore an oath of office; do your job, and leave the judging to the court and jury. Arrest the bad guys, including the store owners, because unless they unwittingly purchased fake goods from their regular supplier (doesn't sound like it), they're just as guilty as the ones driving the truck.

In the latest case, you might want to alert the FBI, in case the scoundrels have terrorist connections.