Truckers: 1, Terrorists: 0

[Stocks-to-Watch]

In the war on terror, add a trucking service center in Texas to the front lines.

On Thursday, the FBI arrested Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, a 20-year-old Saudi student studying in Texas. He is being charged with attempting to construct improvised explosives and compiling a list of possible targets, including West Coast reservoirs and dams, nuclear power plants and the home of former President George W. Bush.

The investigation began more than three weeks ago, on Feb. 1. A company flagged Aldawsari’s purchase of phenol, which can be used to make explosives. On that same day, Con-way (CNW) also alerted the agency after detecting a suspicious package in its Lubbock, Texas service center.

Today the company issued a press release detailing its involvement in the investigation after it received the package:

Based on training and experience, Con-way’s local management immediately flagged the shipment as suspicious and notified Con-way’s corporate security department. The shipment matched profiles outlined in Con-way’s security protocols for identifying shipments of a suspicious nature, and which appeared for use not consistent with known commercial application of the product.

These concerns triggered the company’s Homeland Security escalation plan. Con-way’s corporate security department then notified law enforcement authorities, who then visited our facility and examined the shipment. The FBI subsequently reviewed the shipment information as part of its ongoing investigation which yesterday resulted in Aldawsari’s arrest.

Further proof that you shouldn’t mess with Texas. Or truckers.



Original Article Source by Barrons.com