Espionage in Charleston
posted 8:05 pm Thu February 14, 2008 - Charleston, SC
It's one of the top tourist destinations in the Country. But while Charleston's harbor is a hot spot for tourists, it can also be a hazard. "Because Charleston is a tourism area that provides cover for somebody that wants to come down here and engage in espionage," Former FBI Agent Mike Rogers said.
Rogers adds that while larger cities are more commonly terrorism targets, smaller areas may be easier to impact.
"You come into Charleston, fly or drive or get off a ship, you're a tourist, you act like a tourist, but you have another mission in mind and it's not in the best interest of the US," said Rogers.That's where the Coast Guard comes in, playing a critical role in protection.
"Always aware and not in disbelief, that's why we have information sharing, and several different agencies sit down everyday and screen every commercial vessel coming into our port," said Ensign Jim Litzinger of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Which includes roughly 60 commercial cruise ships a year and the fourth largest amount of container traffic along the East and Gulf Coasts.
Roger says the key to keeping the city safe is communication. The very same value US law enforcement is trying to protect. Classified defense work at SPAWAR, the Naval Weapons Station in Goose Creek, also the Naval brig which sometimes stores alleged terrorists, all put the Holy City in the spotlight and make spying a little less surprising.
"I think it's everywhere. It's just another chapter in the history of espionage against the United States," said Rogers.
FBI Agents in Charleston keep in close communication with defense contractors and academic officials in the area who work closely with foreign students and deal with sensitive information at the research level. They try and teach both the schools and businesses how to protect themselves from any information threats.
The U.S. Defense official charged, faces up to ten years in prison if convicted of conspiracy. The two alleged spies face up to life in prison. They are U.S. citizens of chinese decent.
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