- The FBI said Friday that it is investigating the cash
purchase of "large quantities" of candy from Costco stores in
Hackensack and Wayne.
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- "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.
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- 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."
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- 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.
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- "They told us to stay out of it," said Hackensack
Police Chief Charles "Ken" Zisa.
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- 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.
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