City of Frederick, Maryland

       

 

OPERATION SAFEGUARD

SEED COMPANIES

 

            As described in the accompanying letter, Operation SAFEGUARD is based on the idea that certain legitimate businesses and industries may be unknowingly exploited by terrorists who portray themselves as honest customers seeking to purchase, lease or somehow appropriate certain material, licenses and/or services to covertly further a terrorist plot.

 

The following may be general indicators of potential terrorist planning or activities. Alone each indicator can result from legitimate recreational or commercial activities or criminal activity not related to terrorism; however, multiple indicators combined with other information can possibly suggest a terrorist threat.

 

  • Physical surveillance, which may include note taking or the use of binoculars, cameras or maps near key facilities.
  • Attempts to gain sensitive information regarding key facilities or personnel through personal contact or by telephone, mail or e-mail.
  • Attempts to penetrate or test physical security and response procedures at key facilities.
  • Attempts to improperly acquire explosives, weapons, ammunition, dangerous chemicals, flight manuals or other materials that could be used in a terrorist attack.
  • Suspicious or improper attempts to acquire official vehicles, uniforms, badges, access cards or identification for key facilities.
  • Presence of individuals who do not appear to belong in the workplace, business establishment or near a key facility.
  • Behavior which appears to denote planning for terrorist activity, such as mapping out routes, playing out scenarios, monitoring key facilities and timing traffic flow or signals.
  • Stockpiling suspicious materials or abandoning potential containers for explosives (e.g., vehicles or suitcases).

 

            The following examples of activity relating to Seed Companies, though not fully inclusive, may be of possible concern to law enforcement:

 

·         Inquiries from unknown persons as to the purchase of seeds that have the potential to be made into harmful substances capable of causing injury or death, i.e. castor beans, clematis seeds, etc.

·         Inquiries for information or for purchase of Nitrogen rich, above 23%, fertilizers.

·         Any requests for information on amounts, suppliers, purchasers, transporters, etc. Specific questions involving security operations of suppliers, purchasers, transporters, of shipments.

·         Questions specifically involving operations of growing and use of potentially harmful seeds.

·         A request to ship seeds to an area or region not normally associated with seed operations.

  • A customer’s reluctance to provide information on the locations of where crops will or place where the seeds will be stored.

 

Your impressions and assessment based upon your professional business experience are extremely valuable and should help guide you in determining if a customer request, a fact pattern or set of circumstances is unusual.   Please remember that the conduct itself does not have to be criminal per se for you to report it to the Frederick Police Department. We may be contacted 24-hours a day, seven days a week by calling:

 

301-694-2100

 

SGT Dennis K. Dudley

Planning Division

Frederick Police Department

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, MD 21702

301-624-1206 (Office)

301-696-2964 (FAX)