An undercover agent for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has purchased 10 pounds of highly explosive material from a former soldier in Blackfoot.
ATF Special Agent Ed Gygli said the purchase was hastily arranged for last Friday to get the quantity of C-4 explosive out the hands of the man, who allegedly stole the explosives about five years ago when he was in the military at Fort Hood in Texas."Normally we have the luxury of time in drug cases, but where we were dealing with explosives we had to act as quickly as possible for the good of the community," Gygli said.
Authorities intend to press for an indictment next month when the federal grand jury reconvenes.
C-4, considered more powerful than TNT, is typically used in warfare to blow up buildings or bridges with 10 pounds enough to blow up an average-size bridge, officials said.
Gygli said the C-4 was stored in a residence across the street from a convenience store. One purchase was made at the house and another at Airport Park, he said.