SECRETS, GUNS AND DRUGS LIE UNDER RUBBLE

Vital evidence in the fight against organised crime and terrorism may be
lost forever in the rubble of the World Trade Center.

And with millions of dollars in gold bars and art treasures also buried in
the wreckage, New York City officials are worried about the foothold gained
by organised crime in the cleanup.

Beneath the haunting presence of thousands presumed dead, Ground Zero is
rich with documents, guns and other evidence collected by the CIA and US
Secret Service.

Both agencies had offices in the twin towers destroyed by suicide plane
attacks on September 11.

US Customs and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms suffered similar
losses.

Somewhere in the rubble are safes containing guns, heroin, cocaine and
Ecstasy - evidence from crimes that now may never be prosecuted.

The CIA ordered the World Trade Center Seven building surrounded by FBI
agents shortly after it collapsed.

Since then, they have been searching for computers and a safe filled with
classified documents.

Rescue workers have found weapons belonging to the Secret Service. Still
buried are detailed contingency plans for presidential motorcades in New
York and files on investigations that include the closely guarded names of
informants in organised crime and terrorism.

Tax investigators based in World Trade Center building Six have lost
countless confidential documents.

The Securities and Exchange Commission lost files on several hundred cases.

Government agents are watching construction workers employed in the removal
through binoculars as they search.

Meanwhile, a steel "cross" found in the rubble has been adopted by rescue
workers as a symbol of faith.

The 6m cross, which fell intact from one of the twin towers, was found
early in the search for survivors.

Rescue workers have since made pilgrimages to pray or meditate near it,
some etching messages on the metal.

This week, workers hoisted the cross atop a 12m-high foundation and stood
quietly as it was blessed with holy water.

Few other identifiable items have been recovered from the wreckage. But
with such valuable and sensitive items buried, ABC News reported growing
concern at the presence of trucking firms and cleanup workers with
organised crime connections.

Authorities are investigating claims that Mob-connected truckers stole
tonnes of scrap metal instead of taking it to a landfill site for inspection.

Most workers at the site are provided by the Carpenters' Union Local 608,
which has longstanding ties to the Genovese crime family.

Some workers have allegedly been forced to pay kickbacks to Mob-connected
union officials in order to keep working.

Investigators say the Mob slipped in quickly in the early, frantic days. To
the Mafia, the scene of devastation and worldwide shock instantly spelled
"money."