Tom Vaitys- Makes you wonder about the bad guys getting through without their bills smelling emitting a cocaine scent to the dogs. Nevertheless chalk one up in the Atta-Boy and/or Atta- Girl column for law enforcement.

Ever hear of a cashier's check, wire transfer? What kind of person carries that much cash on them? I'm sorry, but these days, you can't be too careful and the information on his computer is alarming as well.

This is very scary. Who knows where the money in one's pocket comes from? Who knows if the 100 dollar bill you have may have been used by some idiot to snort a line of coke? How can any of us know?

That an American citizen, returning home could be detained without charges for having all his money on him and for having no cord to a computer with just stuff from the net downloaded on it (even if it was nuclear stuff), shows you just how much freedom we have all lost!

Big Brother is watching us all!

Steve:
Not everyone is carrying $78,000 in their hip pocket these days. He is either stupid or he is a mule designated to launder money.
It is a pity he apparently could not or would not tell customs where he got the money.

Steve A guy has 78k in cash and a computer full of nuclear/chemical weapons info, and you are worrying about our government? Wake up buddy.

Steve is worried about "Big Brother?" If we had one, 9/11 would never have happened. You "Lefties" keep dreaming about Abu Ghraib which at it's worst did not equal the beheading of Danny Pearle.
George

Steve I think you should quit your bitching. The first time someone gets by our security and causes a problem, you will be right there, I am sure, complaining that enough was not done to protect innocents; or, you will be among the horde saying we brought it upon ourselves. You have no idea what is on the computer. None of us do. As far as the cash, Jbird got it right. Carry a check. This guy is into technology yet he would rather carry that much cash rather than wire it to a bank? There is more here than you think. Give the good guys a break already.

Steve:
It is illegal to bring more than $10,000 cash into the country without declaring it.
Not big brother, it is law enforcement doing their job.

Off with his head!

Remember in the 8o's when every 1 in ten $20 dollar bills had cocain on it?

Ohhhh, I'm afraid! I'm so glad we aren't bothered by those pesky Rights anymore! Let's just arrest everyone--we aren't citzens anymore, we're all suspects!

"American citizen", indeed! Been out of the country for years. In these times, such 'Americans' should be checked out.
And, law enforcement folks should check him and his dubious story thoroughly.
After all, carrying that much cash is against the law unless you declare it, so let him pay the price (of being detained and screened) for breaking our (his) law.

Long ago Congress enacted laws that gave law enforcement specific and broad powers of search and seizure at the border...get an education.

ya, this is ridiculous. $78,000 is not arms trade type money. This guy could be behind bars for years simply on suspicion. Terrible.

These agents took an oath to protect this country from both foreign and DOMESTIC enemies. You criticize, but has your daily freedoms been affected? I mean really are you worse off? Do you not think this guy is suspicious? Do you feel the agents should have just let him slide by? Would they have done their job by letting the guy slide by? It seems to me any action made by authorities now is considered "a loss of freedom" by people like you Steve. I would give my life to protect you Steve, would you do the same for me?

-Big Brother

Jbird,

If you have a $100 bill in your pocket and it alerts the dogs, then you will be searched, questioned and released when it is obvious you are not smuggling drugs.

When they search you and find $78K in cash that smells of drugs, they have probable cause to look further - as far as necessary to ensure no crime is being committed.

If he is merely ignorant and unwise, he will be let free and then can sue like everyone else who gets wounded feelings when they get caught acting in a suspicious manner.

However, from the story, there looks to be more. Assuming he had terrorist contacts, would you really think his rights were violated and want him to walk blithely through customs or would you think they were failing in their duty?

"Big Brother is watching us all!"
----------------------------------
Fine by me. I sleep better for it.

That's NOT an American name. I bet they are "Americans" who are Arabic. And in the palm of some terrorist organization.

the legal limit without declaring it is 10,000. this guy broke the law.

end of story

Steve,
Wake up. The guy had nearly $100k in cash on him and a freaking laptop with nuke info on it.
What happy sauce have you been drinking?
If they want to search my stuff for the protection of myself and those around me....let them. I have nothing to hide.
Maybe you do?

Lets hope that this poor "American citizen" is not harmed or terrorized with loud culturally insensitive music by faschist interrogators of Bush's war machine!
Wow it really is easy to spit out liberal platitudes!

Lets hope that this poor "American citizen" is not harmed or terrorized with loud culturally insensitive music by faschist interrogators of Bush's war machine!
Wow it really is easy to spit out liberal platitudes!

How does a guy with $78,000 in cash not have the ability to buy another power cord for his laptop?

How many people do you know that have nuclear info on a laptop and $78,000. cash? No one. He reaks of elicit acts and while he may not be a terrorist himself, I'd bet someone he knows IS. If I was the authorities, everyone he knows would be under heavy scrutiny.

Good job by the law enforcement officials. This is exactly why we need to keep watch. Maybe there wasn't anything going on, but these days there is "nothing" wrong with being too carefull.

btw = Steve, as stated in all the articles I've read about this, the documents on the Laptop are a bit more than something you would download off the Internet. Until they can find out otherwise, I'm glad they are hanging onto this guy.

Ditto what Steve said.
Too bad so many people are scared of big brother instead of the terrorist among us.
Big brother is much too busy to be worrying about you; he's looking for the guys who want us dead!

Everyone just wants to pick on the little guy. If he were a Texan with 78Mill, and plans on how to start oil wars and steal across borders with cross drilling, he would have a security clearance!

Steve: normally I would agree with you about losing our liberties. However in this case I'll have to pile-on a little, although respectfully.

If he had $9,999 on him which smelled slightly of cocaine then he'd be at home today. Luckily, in this case, I'd imagine it would be hard to come up with $78,000 that DIDNT smell like drugs.

Also the computer. The guy was acting like a bad guy. Law Enforcement has always had the right to stop someone who acts like a bad guy. That's what we pay them to do.

He's going to get his due process and he's not being tortured. In other countries he would not be so lucky.

Hey Steve, you cannot be serious, this truly does not pass the smell test. I really worry about how many people there are like you that feel everyone is just misunderstanding these situations. I would bet you that the chances of this person being a "good guy" are next to nill.
Mad Jack

Steve, not only is Paul correct, but wiring that amount here would trigger the government's money-making machine. Spare the fact that government planes are not subject to the same inspections that We The Sheeple are (according to Flight Aviation Rules) but yes, if someone has lots of money, the drug dog will notice it. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if today's money is purposely made with confiscated drugs to give their searches more legitimacy.

But it's OK for a terrorist who sent terrorizing letters and white powder to prominent democrats to be released on bail?
Just as long as no republicans received a threatening letter huh?

Even as a knee-jerk liberal, I have to agree with the Feds on this one. $78K, no explanations, and incriminating weird evidence? Definitely a person who needs to be asked a few more pointed questions by law-enforcement professionals... I think it's a good call, at first glance.

It's funny how every time there is a disagreement on the internet, people start being far more rude than they would be in person for fear of losing the argument. Just post your opinion; there's no need to be rude and tell someone who posted theirs to "get an education.

He didn't have a power cord for his laptop and his attorney claims it hadn't been used in four months. Yet customs officials were able to boot it up and look at the contents of the hard drive during a secondary inspection. Unless they have some special laptop-inspection station with power cords for every known brand - something I've never seen going through customs - the laptop's battery was charged. No laptop battery holds a charge for four months; it would be completely dead. Whatever his intentions, it would seem clear he lied about that.

There's a lot we don't know here, and a lot of people are jumping to conclusions.
The guy did break the law regarding the amount of cash he was carrying, and the files on the computer are suspicious. The missing power supply is an odd touch.
It's possible there's a fairly benign explanation for this, but it does seem reasonable to detain the guy (based on the currency violation) to investigate further.
We're not in star chamber territory here; all of the proceedings are in open court. Let's let law enforcement do their job.

I think that this is another bad thing coming for another terriosts attack just like 9/11 you never can be to careful thank god they stoped that guy before getting on the plane

this is another terriost we have on our hands

you know there is so many inconstituional and bizzare crimes and things happening in this world evry day its not suprised me that someone has 78k and a laptop of nuclear information. the problem is that we need to use brute force against these types of acts.

A lot of heated discussion without sufficient information.
First of all, it is not illegal to bring more than $10K into the country. It is only illegal to fail to declare that you have cash or bearer instruments of that value or more. From the info presented it appears that he may have made the declaration. Of course, this article neglects to tell you why he was actually finally detained and apparently charged with something for which he had originally been granted bail.
All of that aside, regardless of your political persuasion it is obvious to anyone who is paying attention that the rights we supposedly have as Americans are, and have been for decades, evaporating little by little. To paraphrase, I beleive, Benjamin Franklin: "Those who are wiling trade a little freedom for a little security will soon have little of either."

Missing power cord means very little. How many of you posting here realise that other countries have other pin configurations?? I have travelled a few times with out my power cord intending to buy another in the country of origin. either for the external transformer or the laptop itself.
My computer has plenty of anitbush stuff on it (most of it from US sites by the way!!) as I imagine do the computers of about 97.5% of the rest of the world. That is because I, like many, fear for what is happening under his malign stewrdship, to a country and people I admire.
Nuclear material... That could be just about anything. I have info on my machine about all manner of nuclear issues, including experimental thorium reactors and their pros and cons.
What did he have?? Blue Prints for a bomb??
If you were carrying sensitive stuff that would tag you, would you really bring it in, on a laptop in your possession?? Far easier to heavily encrypt and post to an email accoutn for later retireval..
As to the money, Yes, looks like he may be trying to avoid currency control.
mbv.. A person is innocent until proven guilty.. Read your (expunged) Bill of Rights

Where in the article does it say that he didn't declare the $78k? How many of you would put that much money in a bank in Kenya or have worked in, or even been to, a third world country? How many of you know, for certain, that you are not carrying bills in your wallet right now that might alert a drug dog? How many of you who have already assumed this guy is guilty believe everything you read?

Another case of brilliant law inforcement at work. For the rest of you critics, if you don't like the USA then either get out or vote more.

So this is what it has come to. Liberatarian Democrats are the only ones concerned about our human rights. I knew it had gotten bad but this is ridiculous. R.I.P. Libertarian Republicans. We'll miss you.

Its getting so bad that sometimes it feels as if we have no rights and i think that is what its coming down to its all a false hope in a manner all of our rights have been taken away in one case or another and that doesnt show politcal balance at all

Just wanted to point out that according to the constitution it is perfectly legal to possess money, I believe it is under the definition of one's right to own property.
"It is illegal to bring more than $10,000 cash into the country without declaring it.
Not big brother, it is law enforcement doing their job."
I've got no problem with an individual being questioned to affirmed that it is their property and not someone else in regards to crime.
Also, I would like people to think back a few years ago when the Marcos family came over from the Philippines with all the stolen gold bars on pallets being offloaded with news media showing it that no one complained then. So why is it a crime for you to possess money or gold but not for the elites??
No... it is by in nature an unlawful act to take someone's money from them stating that they have to give it to a third party to have and forcing you to have to take "their" promise note from that bank.
I just hope that the Americans just do not forget who they are and not to be deceived into giving up your property and all your rights from the use of crimes "staged" or real crimes committed by other people. Is this what we have come down to punish the innocent and reward the rich?
And what is law? Paper and ink?
Here's my point you see in the news every day about small drug dealers
get caught and bad guys get caught in Iraq or wherever due to you giving in all your rights and saying "go ahead and bug everyone in site to "protect" us and you don't need warrants or anything else".
I'd say great if you answer one small question for me...if this is working so good how come we still have "any" ORGANIZED crime at all in this country???? That's right now you have just realized that you've been suckered into a great deception. Kinda doesn't feel good does it knowing that with all that power they are choosing not to shut down crime. Oh you will see small fries taken here and there but amazing. Isn't it very odd that not a single crime "GROUP" has been removed to date.
My body is my body, my mind is my mind, my property is my property, my family is my family...these are your God given rights...demand more of your government without the infringement upon you or your neighbor. Our government is the best in the world, you need to demand and expect more from them in
order that they do more with less and not the other way around.
:)

I cant stand all these people defending this crap. We live in a great country where you can leave if you want. If you feel this way dont let the door hit you in the a$$. Anyway that much cash should set off metal detectors, the little strip of what looks like plastic actually has trace amounts of iron in them. Carry enough and it will set off detectors, done that way on purpose just for this reason. BTW 78K is enough to get whatever you need to blow yourself up somewhere populated maybe a dirty suicide bomb. Think before you start bitchin!!

America,Great Britain,Israel..the end is near??
How can that be?
"The best lack all conviction? The worst are full of passionate intensity?"
Is that how?
Does anyone care? ...and what should be done?what can be done?
speak, o, heart of America..
C

well after reading the above posts I have to say that both sides are right. First of all, they have detained him coming into the country, it's not like they wire tapped his house without a warrant. so,at the borders, right now, we need to have people checked, not that I like that, but lets face reality. Second, although he has the right to have anything on his laptop that he wants to have there, and since it is of sensitive nature, let's find out why he has this info, if it is harmless let him go. As far as his rights, well let's remember that the constitution says protection from unwarranted search and seisure, and arrest without probable cause, and although I don't believe a dog alerting constitutes that it is probable cause, he was at an airport, where you know the dogs are going to check you out. Its funny to read that the librals are screaming for indiviual rights in this case and the conservatives are screaming for security over those rights when its the libs that have plundered our rights under the cover of civil liberties and anti-discrimination laws. how does the Marcos situation have anything to do with case other than the person that brought it up obviously believes that the "wealthy" don't realy deserve to own anything more than the "poor" do, so its ok to bash the rich. Not to say that the Marcos wealth was or wasn't illegally gotten, but that's neither here nor there as far as this case. Don't fret over this guys rights, I'm sure the ACLU will be called in to save they day and protect all the terrorist, oops, alleged, from the big bad USA. At the same time, I do believe that we need to keep vigilant and make sure that those rights afforded to us in the constitution, even the right to bear arms, that'll get the libs going, must be protected. Or is it ok to let them take that one away, what say you libs, protect all our rights or just the ones you think we should keep?

After what happened on September 11th 2001, how can anybody have any objections to any kind of securtity measure that is exercised at any check point? As far as rights being violated, how does anybody have the right to break the law by not declaring an excess of the minimum amount of money allowed into the country? Sure, he declared it after the dog sniffed it out. The question remains if he would have declared it other wise. Plus, the guy already lied about not using the computer in months. The computer would not still be working if that was the truth. And, why didn't he get a new cord in all those months since he "lost" it? He sure had enough money. Or did he? We have to stop screaming about rights being violated and then when something bad happens, rip apart the inadequacies of out security measures. I don't see how we can have both and still have a safe and secure country.

I think all this commentary about rights and violations and protecting the USA is a bunch of crap. This is a good example of how things need to work to secure the borders of this country and this kind of episode would play out exactly the same at the borders of most of our other democratic friends. It would be very different in some less democratic countries. Keep in mind, this guy HAS A LAWYER!! In many countries, legal representation wouldnt be happening for this guy. When they figure out where and how he got the money, and where and how and why he got the nuke information, and if all the circumstances are legal, he will be golden. If the money is dirty, if he stole or was smuggling the nuke info, he is in for a bad time. This is how it is in a democracy. WE decide the laws, and one of them is that you cant make money commiting crimes and expect to stay out of jail. Americans who have been living abroad are, by definition, a flight risk. Especially ones that may have access to large amounts of cash.

Wow.

So, the terrorists are going to do a suicide mission, just as 9/11, but this time they're going to kill themselves with cyanide after emitting a nuclear agent in a highly populated area?

Sounds like we're in trouble if this is their next plan.

What has the world come to?
Why do people want to kill others? It's a sad world we live in. I don't understand the mentality of these terrorists?

Why are they ruining the world? Why? Why are they killing the world?

You can't have a completly safe and secure country if / when much of the World is against you, and no amount of border patrols or immigration checks can stop those with a plan! If there had been a terrorist on the same fligt as the 'laptop' guy, he is probably sitting in his hotel now, or in a bar enjoying himself with his buddies! Paranoia is not a good strategy for security and everyone in USA is paranoid these days...