Life Imitates Art: Bioterror On Seized Money

I remember the chills that went up my spine reading Frank Herbert's THE WHITE PLAGUE. From the same author who wrote the Dune books, it is the story of a single bioterrorist who spreads a plague around the world using an ingenious method. (WARNING, SPOILER!) He infects money with the virus, and then sends the money to charities. (END SPOILER!) Well, in a case of life imitating art, it appears the Russian mafia is infecting drug money to take out police who may seize it.

Earlier this month, Pennsylvania State Troopers intercepted $250,000 dollars during a routine traffic stop. The alleged drug money, which had been sealed in plastic, was being driven from Columbus, Ohio to Northeast Philadelphia. According to law enforcement sources, after counting the seized cash, troopers began feeling ill and one trooper was even hospitalized with flu-like symptoms. Sources tell CBS 3 that tests on the cash counter revealed the presence of a toxin derived from the bacteria staphylococcus. Dr. Joseph Smith, a local terrorism expert says it may be a new application of terrorism, although this time it was used as a deterrent among thieves: “I am not that surprised, this is the nature of terrorism. By its nature, you have to say we must always be mindful and careful of new applications.”

This is a horrible development. This kind of success is very likely to imitated by Al-Qaeda or other terrorists with more evil things in mind than making police officers take a sick day. The Department of Homeland Security needs to make an example of whoever did this, so that it is not attractive to future bioterrorists. I am thinking prison, bankruptcy, bankruptcy for the evildoers family, etc. is not gong too far.