NY Consul warns traveling nationals

08.June.07

by Nelson A. King in New York

In the wake of the alleged plot by four Caribbean-born men to blow up John F. Kennedy International Airport and a large swath of its environs in Queens, New York Consul General Cosmus Cozier has warned nationals to be evermore careful when leaving and entering the United States.{{more}}

“It will affect us all as West Indians in general,” Cozier told Searchlight, disclosing that the Consulate General has been inundated with a large number of calls, particularly on Monday, after news of the alleged incident broke over the last weekend.

“I advise those traveling to go to the airport earlier than usual, and expect to be searched more,” he added.

“We need to be very careful now because they’re going to look more closely at every person from each island,” he continued.

United States authorities allege that Guyanese Abdel Nur, 67; along with Trinidadian Kareem Ibrahim, 61; former Guyanese legislator Abdul Kadir, 55; and Guyana-born Russell de Freitas were part of a terrorist cell that planned to attack JFK airport, (one of the United States’ busiest) by blowing up major fuel supply tanks and pipelines.

Ibrahim and Kadir, a former legislator in Guyana, were arrested in Trinidad and Tobago over the weekend and appeared in a Trinidad Magistrate’s Court Monday, where they were remanded into custody until June 11, when their lawyers say they would make an application for bail.

They have been charged with the extraditable offence of conspiring to commit terrorist acts against the laws of the United States.

They were not called upon to plea to the charges that have been laid indictably.

De Freitas, the alleged mastermind, a US citizen, was arrested in New York last Friday night, June 1, and arraigned in Brooklyn the next day.

Abdel Nur turned himself in to the Trinidad police on Tuesday.

“People will be subjected to extra searches, and be prepared to comply,” Cozier said.

“Be careful about what you are taking home, especially for family and friends,” he warned.

“You have to make sure you don’t have any problems with passports, especially expired passports, or you’re not going anywhere,” he added.

In addition, the New York Consul General advised travelers to purchase their tickets early, cautioning that they would be subjected to extra searches if they do so two days before traveling.

“I cannot emphasize these things enough,” he said. “People need to be extra alert and be very careful with what they’re taking to and from the airport.”