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FBI Searches for Five Men

Aired December 30, 2002 - 13:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The FBI is searching for five men who may have slipped into the country illegally around Christmas Eve. The FBI has linked the search to its war on terrorism and wants you to help them find them. Our security analyst Kelly McCann joins us live from Washington for a closer look at this search.
Hi, Kelly.

J. KELLY MCCANN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Hi, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, let's talk about this increased relationship. I guess the pressure on the relationship between the NSC and FBI -- we're seeing that now, aren't we?

MCCANN: Sure. There's an accountability issue. I mean, I think, NSC is wicking up the pressure on the FBI to account for these people and really take on this nationwide counterterrorism role, and I think they're responding to that.

PHILLIPS: Now, looking at the situation, one key piece of information here that hasn't come about is, geographically, how these individuals got into the country, right?

MCCANN: Exactly. Really, there's three, Kyra, and one is exactly what you said. How did they do that? Because, obviously, Al Qaeda has had a history of mimicking criminal enterprises that are successful. This is a way to make money and also to get people into the country. The second thing would be where, geographically, they came into the country, so that we would know where that illegal portal exists.

And then last and most interesting question, possibly, is how did we get pictures, dates of birth and names? Was that from an ongoing investigation from, for instance, the integrated border team up in that area, or was it an ongoing investigation by another agency or was it off of bogus documents that were provided at legitimate checkpoints.

PHILLIPS: So what are we starting to see here when taking what's happening here with these five men and looking at the integrated border enforcement team and criminal alien smuggling? I mean, we're talking about a whole new world here, aren't we?

MCCANN: Absolutely, and one that's well established. I mean, the organizations that work in that region, there's over 22 law enforcement agencies and other agencies between Canada and the U.S., that are trying -- they have as a mission area to coordinate and conduct non-duplicious efforts that, you know, have a greater toll than they would separately, to stem the flow of criminal alien smuggling, which is a trade. So, I think that people need to understand that this has been going on for some time. This is not a new occurrence, it's just that these five men, obviously, surfaced for a particular reason, and that might be nothing more, Kyra, than timing.

PHILLIPS: Well, you bring up timing. They came in on Christmas Eve, allegedly. New Year's Eve is just around the corner. Of course, you know, a big time for celebrations here in the U.S.

MCCANN: Sure.

PHILLIPS: Does that date concern you?

MCCANN: Well, I think, you know, the question's been asked, is there an imminent attack, and the answer, you know, not from me, but from Condoleezza Rice, from people who are in the know, George Tenet, is yes. Now when that is, don't know. And if these five men are involved, don't know that, either. I think that we need to keep our guard up, reasonably so. And that if these men, you know, are linked to other investigations that could concern elements not favorable to us, we need to go after them and find them and talk to them.

PHILLIPS: And if caught, if the FBI is able to talk to these men, what can these men offer up?

MCCANN: Well, you know, Kyra, they can offer up more than they may realize. For instance, if, in fact, Al Qaeda is mimicking kind of successful criminal enterprises, it could be that they were facilitated in their entry into the U.S. by them in a criminal role: making money, raising funds, et cetera. Also, who else came in with them? How many other people came from their point of origin? So without even knowing it, without wittingly giving that information, they could provide a significant amount.

PHILLIPS: Security analyst Kelly McCann. Thanks, Kelly.

MCCANN: You bet, Kyra.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 30, 2002 - 13:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The FBI is searching for five men who may have slipped into the country illegally around Christmas Eve. The FBI has linked the search to its war on terrorism and wants you to help them find them. Our security analyst Kelly McCann joins us live from Washington for a closer look at this search.
Hi, Kelly.

J. KELLY MCCANN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Hi, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, let's talk about this increased relationship. I guess the pressure on the relationship between the NSC and FBI -- we're seeing that now, aren't we?

MCCANN: Sure. There's an accountability issue. I mean, I think, NSC is wicking up the pressure on the FBI to account for these people and really take on this nationwide counterterrorism role, and I think they're responding to that.

PHILLIPS: Now, looking at the situation, one key piece of information here that hasn't come about is, geographically, how these individuals got into the country, right?

MCCANN: Exactly. Really, there's three, Kyra, and one is exactly what you said. How did they do that? Because, obviously, Al Qaeda has had a history of mimicking criminal enterprises that are successful. This is a way to make money and also to get people into the country. The second thing would be where, geographically, they came into the country, so that we would know where that illegal portal exists.

And then last and most interesting question, possibly, is how did we get pictures, dates of birth and names? Was that from an ongoing investigation from, for instance, the integrated border team up in that area, or was it an ongoing investigation by another agency or was it off of bogus documents that were provided at legitimate checkpoints.

PHILLIPS: So what are we starting to see here when taking what's happening here with these five men and looking at the integrated border enforcement team and criminal alien smuggling? I mean, we're talking about a whole new world here, aren't we?

MCCANN: Absolutely, and one that's well established. I mean, the organizations that work in that region, there's over 22 law enforcement agencies and other agencies between Canada and the U.S., that are trying -- they have as a mission area to coordinate and conduct non-duplicious efforts that, you know, have a greater toll than they would separately, to stem the flow of criminal alien smuggling, which is a trade. So, I think that people need to understand that this has been going on for some time. This is not a new occurrence, it's just that these five men, obviously, surfaced for a particular reason, and that might be nothing more, Kyra, than timing.

PHILLIPS: Well, you bring up timing. They came in on Christmas Eve, allegedly. New Year's Eve is just around the corner. Of course, you know, a big time for celebrations here in the U.S.

MCCANN: Sure.

PHILLIPS: Does that date concern you?

MCCANN: Well, I think, you know, the question's been asked, is there an imminent attack, and the answer, you know, not from me, but from Condoleezza Rice, from people who are in the know, George Tenet, is yes. Now when that is, don't know. And if these five men are involved, don't know that, either. I think that we need to keep our guard up, reasonably so. And that if these men, you know, are linked to other investigations that could concern elements not favorable to us, we need to go after them and find them and talk to them.

PHILLIPS: And if caught, if the FBI is able to talk to these men, what can these men offer up?

MCCANN: Well, you know, Kyra, they can offer up more than they may realize. For instance, if, in fact, Al Qaeda is mimicking kind of successful criminal enterprises, it could be that they were facilitated in their entry into the U.S. by them in a criminal role: making money, raising funds, et cetera. Also, who else came in with them? How many other people came from their point of origin? So without even knowing it, without wittingly giving that information, they could provide a significant amount.

PHILLIPS: Security analyst Kelly McCann. Thanks, Kelly.

MCCANN: You bet, Kyra.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com