Biological Weapons Anti Terrorism Act

Arkansas Resident Charged with Possession of Ricin — Canadian customs officials intercepted a man carrying a stack of currency. A white powder was interspersed between the bills. Suspecting cocaine, customs personnel had the material analyzed and discovered that it was ricin, a strong toxin, and not cocaine. The Arkansas resident was charged with possession of ricin in violation of the Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989. 

Chemical and biological terrorism was not limited to foreign countries. The first conviction under the Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1989 occurred in 1995, when a U.S. citizen was sentenced to 33 months in prison for possession of 0.7 g of ricin. The same year, a nonprofit organization... 

Two tax protesters were convicted in February 1995 of possessing ricin as a biological weapon. This was the first case of prosecution under the 1989 Biological Weapons Anti-terrorism Act.17... 

Committee on the Judiciary, The Biological Weapons Anti Terrorism Act of1989, 101st Congress, first session, 26 July 1989. 

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