A New York man was arrested by the FBI Tuesday for allegedly trying to stockpile the biological agent ricin and sell it on one of the anonymous online marketplaces that officials have dubbed the "dark web."
Cheng Le allegedly used encrypted messaging to contact an undercover agent posing as a ricin supplier. The FBI said Le wanted to resell the potentially fatal toxin, which is produced in the seeds of a castor oil plant, online for a profit.
Investigators said he is not believed to be connected to any group or specific plot. In one message to the undercover agent, prosecutors said Le wrote,”If it’s good quality, I’ve already had buyers lining up.”
He also allegedly contacted undercover agents on Dec. 3 to ask how much liquid makes a lethal dose. “By $200 per lethal dose, you mean lethal dose for ingestion of injection?”
Le was allegedly using the Tor Internet browser during the investigation, which allows users to mask their IP addresses and browse and post online anonymously.
The FBI tracked Le to a shipping store where Le was allegedly going to pick up a delivery. FBI agents said they arrested him as he picked up what he believed was a box containing ricin. Le was wearing blue protective rubber gloves at the time.
Le is expected to appear in Manhattan federal court late Tuesday on charges of attempting to obtain a biological weapon. NBC 4 New York is attempting to contact his lawyer for comment.
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Ricin made the news in April 2013 when some letters mailed to the U.S. Capitol tested positive for the compound. In May 2013, a Texas woman was arrested for allegedly mailing a ricin letter to the White House under her husband’s name in an alleged attempt to frame him.
