Hi-Tech Dirty Money?

Disturbing. A Philadelphia TV station is reporting that the FBI has taken over an investigation of an incident in which members of the Russian mafia, operating out of that city, may have seeded drug money with a bioweapon.

KWY-TV, otherwise known as CBS-3, reports on the Dirty Money : (Hat Tip: Drudge)

Earlier this month, Pennsylvania State Troopers intercepted $250,000 dollars during a routine traffic stop. The alleged drug money, which had been sealed in plastic, was being driven from Columbus, Ohio to Northeast Philadelphia.

According to law enforcement sources, after counting the seized cash, troopers began feeling ill and one trooper was even hospitalized with flu-like symptoms. Sources tell CBS 3 that tests on the cash counter revealed the presence of a toxin derived from the bacteria staphylococcus.

The FBI is being tight-lipped about the incident, according to the report, but other sources are telling the station that ...

"... a warning has been issued at both the state and federal level, recommending that officers should take extra precaution and wear protective masks when handling suspected drug money, now more than ever."

Well, that's well and good for law enforcement, of course. But what happens if someone actually tries spending some of that money somewhere?

Guess we'd better stock up on some latex gloves before our next evening out.

Second thought: Maybe this is the credit card industry's way of inducing the holdouts among us to quit using cash? We trust them less than the Russian mafia.