Homeland Security raids mall kiosks, claims they "fund terrorists"

[Severian]

Homeland Security raids mall kiosks

    Ed Drantch
    Posted by: Emily Lenihan

AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) - Homeland Security investigators walked out with bags and boxes full of suspected counterfeit goods, after a raid at the Boulevard Mall. They seized cell phone cases and other merchandise that they believe violate trademark, copyright and intellectual property patents.

Three different kiosks were raided at the Boulevard Mall, late Monday morning. At the same time, stores were being raided at the Walden Galleria, in Cheektowaga.  Investigators served several search warrants there, seizing similar goods.

These warrants come after undercover agents purchased goods from these stores.  Investigators say these items were deemed fake by industry experts.

Homeland Security investigators say it is vital they stop the sale of these suspected counterfeit goods, because money spent could be going toward criminal networks.  Terrorist networks, HSI says, could be selling knock off goods to make money.

www.wivb.com/dpp/news/crime/homeland-security-raids-mall-kiosks

[Hawker]

Now that is fucked up.

Of course, the problem is they went to the wrong shops.  A trip to the cookware section to confiscate pressure cookers would inconvenience far more terrorists.

[AzureEngineer]

There is nothing wrong with seizing counterfeit products. Your sensationalist title skews the issue.

[myrkul]

There is nothing wrong with seizing counterfeit products. Your sensationalist title skews the issue.

This just in: The truth is now sensationalist.

[gramma]

There is nothing wrong with seizing counterfeit products. Your sensationalist title skews the issue.

It's not the seizure of counterfeit goods that's the problem - it's the sowing of FUD by tying it (everything?) to terrorism. 

Terrorists eat food, right?  Shut down the farms!

[AzureEngineer]

There is nothing wrong with seizing counterfeit products. Your sensationalist title skews the issue.

This just in: The truth is now sensationalist.

No where in the article did any authority claim that the goods "fund terrorists." It states that they are sure it is organized crime that "could be terrorists." OP put words where they didn't exist solely to garner attention to an otherwise boring news article.

It's not the seizure of counterfeit goods that's the problem - it's the sowing of FUD by tying it (everything?) to terrorism. 

Then you didn't read the article.

Terrorists eat food, right?  Shut down the farms!

This is how things get out of control. Rather than read the article you prefer to read the title that the OP made up and then fan the flames by making more things up. Good job being a sheep.

[Severian]

Your sensationalist title skews the issue.

"Homeland Security does wellness check for corporate trademarks, naughty people found"

Is this better?

[myrkul]

Your sensationalist title skews the issue.

"Homeland Security does wellness check for corporate trademarks, naughty people found"

Is this better?

Much. 

Or maybe: "Homeland security now enforcing trademark law."

[Severian]

This just in: The truth is now sensationalist.

Only if it pertains to misdeeds of government.

[Severian]

Then you didn't read the article.

To repeat, since you seem made of dense stuff: DHS claimed it could be funding terrorist networks. They used the excuse, not me.

[Severian]

Or maybe: "Homeland security now enforcing trademark law."

They can't even do that right.

[AzureEngineer]

"Homeland Security does wellness check for corporate trademarks, naughty people found"

Is this better?

This is sensationalist as well. Depending on the counterfeiter, counterfeit items can be quite dangerous, as most cut costs by not abiding by health and safety standards. Saying counterfeit items are bad because it hurts corporations is silly.

To repeat, since you seem made of dense stuff: DHS claimed it could be funding terrorist networks. They used the excuse, not me.

Would you prefer the government allow what could be a terrorist fund to continue unabated? You're not making a whole lot of sense.

[Severian]

Would you prefer the government allow what could be a terrorist fund to continue unabated?

Ah. Now the title isn't sensational.

[Kluge]

Terrorists speed, therefor speeders may be terrorists, therefor DHS has jurisdiction. Did I get that right?

[Severian]

Terrorists speed, therefor speeders may be terrorists, therefor DHS has jurisdiction. Did I get that right?

Spot on. Furtherly, terrorists breathe, anyone that breathes may be a terrorist.

The logic of government is pretty simple.

[Epinnoia]

This has absolutely nothing to do with counterfeit goods. It's about whether or not items are being sold underground. All sorts of products make it 'underground' -- not limited to merchants who report them stolen (for insurance purposes), and then sell them. Or it could be service members buying things tax-free in bulk at their 'commissaries', and attempting to make a profit reselling them. These items aren't the least-bit fake.  If you don't have a receipt trail, with all the 'i's dotted, and T's crossed, you can expect this sort of harassment.

This would normally be an FBI matter, or even local police. But local police and FBI are much more restrained in what they can do in such cases. But Homeland Security is able to dig much more deeply into your life -- without warrant or cause -- in dragnet types of investigations.

US Tax law currently mandates income taxes -- even on income from bitcoin sales.  Local taxes generally also apply -- insisting on the tax on the dollar value equivalent for the item being sold for bitcoins.  If you're dealing in large numbers of items, through bitcoin, and you aren't paying taxes, don't be surprised when they investigate you using 'counterfeiting laws' -- and confiscate your goods at customs or other shipping facilities.

[AzureEngineer]

Ah. Now the title isn't sensational.

No, it still is. It is not only sensational, it is a complete lie.

[Stampbit]

how do you raid a mall kiosk?

[Severian]

No, it still is. It is not only sensational, it is a complete lie.

Since you keep moving the goalposts, your actual issue with the article is hard to ascertain: it's either a lie or I should be glad that DHS shut down a possible terrorist funding operation.

Which is it?

[myrkul]

how do you raid a mall kiosk?

Well, you know how those shopkeepers terrorists are. You need 5, maybe 6 dozen fully-armed and armored troops.