Baby food food TERROR

Suffolk resident released on bail after black market formula inquiry By TIM MCGLONE, The Virginian-PilotFebruary 15, 2005NORFOLK -

A Suffolk man was released on bail bondMonday following his arrest on federal charges ofbuying black market baby formula and transporting itacross state lines.Federal terrorism agents have been investigating casesnationwide in which proceeds from the sales of formulahave been funneled to terrorist organizations,according to the FBI.There is no indication that has occurred in this case.A gents on the region's Joint Terrorism Task Force arecontinuing their investigation.Abdelaziz Agoujdad, 42, posted $25,000 bail Monday andwas freed pending an appearance in U.S. District Courton Thursday. He was arrested last week following aninvestigation that began in the summer.Agoujdad's case is tied to a multi million dollarblack market baby formula ring that was broken up nearRaleigh, according to court records.Eight illegal immigrants were charged and convicted inthat case.The Wake County, N.C., Sheriff's Department and theWilson, N.C., Police Department began theinvestigation after noticing a surge in shopliftedinfant formula, such as Enfamil and Simulac.That led to undercover deals involving Agoujdad,according to court records.The records say that an undercover officer soldAgouj-dad more than 1,000 cases of formula on fouroccasions between July and August. Agoujdad believedthe cans and boxes were stolen, the records say. Theformula was worth more than $50,000.After making the purchases in North Carolina, Agoujdaddrove back to Virginia and stored the formula at hishome in the 300 block of Morning Tide Lane in Suffolk,the court records say.FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III reported inNovember that there is a growing problem of purloinedinfant formula. In a number of cases, he said, theproceeds of those sales were used to support terroristactivities .Agents said they are still investigating what Agoujdadwas doing with the formula but said they have evidencethat some of it was shipped to New York. The FBI andmembers of the Joint Terrorism Task Force declined tocomment further on the case.The charge of transporting stolen goods across statelines carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.Agoujdad, a native of Morocco, said in court papersthat he is a student with a wife and three children.His attorney, Andrew Sacks, could not be reached forcomment.http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=82145&ran=237485