‘Terror’ cited in raids at Tallulah stores|[2/23/06]

Published 12:00 am Thursday, February 23, 2006

TALLULAH – Federal investigators and local police teamed Wednesday in Louisiana to shut down several convenience stores in towns along Interstate 20 in possibly terror-related raids.

At least four stores were roped off by the FBI and Louisiana State Police, three in Tallulah and one in Monroe, but little information about the reason was available.

In Tallulah, authorities closed and strung police tape around Bayou King Tobacco on U.S. 80 East, Queen Mama Foods on Chestnut Street and Sportsman’s Super Stop on U.S. 65 South, where agents briefly emerged from the store to load unidentified objects into an unmarked sports utility vehicle. State police on scene said only that a federal search warrant was being executed.

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In Monroe, agents also closed and searched the Delta Mini Mart at South Second and Plum streets.

The raids were part of &#8220an ongoing criminal investigation,” said FBI spokesman Shelia Thorne of New Orleans, who confirmed agents were at several locations but would not give any details about the reasons for the raids or how many stores were involved.

&#8220There were no arrests,” she said this morning.

A Monroe television station reported from local police sources Wednesday that the raids targeted 10 convenience stores in Tallulah, Delhi, Monroe and Ruston operated by Middle Eastern owners accused of &#8220money laundering and counterfeiting in connection with suspected domestic terrorist activity and homeland security,” but neither local nor federal authorities would confirm any specifics.

&#8220We do know some, but we’ve been asked by the FBI to refer all comments to them,” said Madison Parish Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Sammie Byrd.

A television station in Buffalo, N.Y., also reported FBI raids at two stores and a home there Wednesday. Search warrants indicated agents were looking for large and improper money transfers to Yemen, the report said.