BOAT SEIZURES NET 9.5 TONS OF COCAINE

TAMPA - The U.S. Coast Guard has seized two more fishing vessels and
two speedboats for transporting cocaine in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

The interceptions netted more than 9.5 tons of cocaine and resulted in
the arrest of 22 sailors. All the sailors were brought to Tampa, where
they had their first appearance in federal court Thursday.

The seizures took place Feb. 27 when Coast Guard officials intercepted
and boarded the Colombian fishing vessels San Juanero and Don Isaac
and the two speedboats.

The sailors face drug charges that carry a potential sentence ranging
from a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, according to
the U.S. Attorney's Office in Tampa.

The busts were part of the government's Operation Panama Express,
which so far has netted about 200 tons of cocaine.