BETHEL – A routine traffic stop last week on Route 2 in Bethel turned up a Lewiston man who is reportedly on a federal terrorist watch list, police said.
Bethel Patrolman Donald McCormick said Tuesday that he stopped a westbound car driven by Alinassir H. Ahmed, 45, for driving fast at 6:45 p.m. April 19. He had a female passenger.
“On running his license, I was advised by the dispatcher that he was on a terrorist alert list, and I was to hold onto him,” McCormick said.
The dispatcher put McCormick in contact with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, who advised him to release Ahmed.
Frank Blauvelt, a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Rangeley, said Tuesday that the agency was informed of the traffic stop the next day. But, he refused to say anything more about the issue, citing an ongoing follow-up investigation.
Blauvelt said his office was also involved in another Bethel traffic stop.
At 10:55 a.m. Thursday, April 21, Sgt. S.R. White reported that he clocked an eastbound car moving at 69 mph in a 55 mph zone on Route 2 and pulled over the driver.
Inside the car were two women and three men from the greater Boston area: driver Giulherme Gaidarji, 22; Rogerio Dias, 31; Joyce Meneguel, 22; Thays Orlanda Junqueira, 22; and Luis Gustabvo Casarini, 24.
Blauvelt said Tuesday that the group, which is from Brazil, was headed to Sunday River Ski Area in Newry for a day of skiing.
Border Patrol agents took them into custody and took the Brazilians to the Rangeley office.
Deportation arrangements, Blauvelt said, were made for all but Junqueira, then they were released on their own recognizance.
Border Patrol Deputy Chief Matt Zetts in Houlton said Wednesday that the four Brazilians who were summoned would have to report to the U.S. Immigration Court in Boston on the deportation charges.
“They came here legally and overstayed their visas. They had no criminal records. They were just college-age kids going skiing,” Blauvelt said.
The Rangeley station is no stranger to foreigners who come to the U.S. legally, but overstay their limits.
“So far this year, we’ve had over 70 illegal aliens. Fifteen of our 70 were living in the Rangeley area,” Blauvelt said.
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