SMUGGLING TRIAL OPENS

MIDLAND -- Two men on trial for allegedly smuggling 62 tons of marijuana
into West Texas from Mexico used drug money to buy police favors and avoid
arrest, federal prosecutors said in opening statements Tuesday.

Francisco Rios Balderamma, 32, and Armando Garcia Quiroz face charges of
continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy and drug trafficking in an
operation alleged to have lasted from 1996 to 2000.

"This is a case of a lust for money, a lust for power," Mark Roomberg, an
assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas, told jurors.
"They kept power by paying off money to Mexican police. They kept power by
paying off growers. They kept power from murder and from intimidation."

The deaths of three men are included in the federal indictment, which could
result in life in prison if Balderamma and Quiroz are convicted.

The killings allegedly were ordered by Balderamma, Quiroz and a third man
who already has pleaded guilty.

Balderamma and Quiroz were originally captured as they left the 2000
Olympics, but escaped a high-security Australian jail on Sept. 11 by
hijacking a large truck and ramming it through three security gates.

They were free for several weeks before being recaptured in Australia in
October after someone who was bringing them new passports was detected by
Australian authorities, Roomberg said in his statement.

The government had to forgo seeking the death penalty against the pair
because of an extradition treaty with Australia that prohibits capital
punishment.

Balderamma's attorney, Dan Hurley of Lubbock, told jurors the government's
case mostly hinges on the credibility of testimony from other people accused
in the 24-count indictment, many of whom have pleaded guilty in plea
agreements.

Hurley told jurors they were required by law to consider the testimony of
alleged accomplices with more caution than ordinary witnesses because the
accomplices may benefit from their testimony.

"We think we can tell each and every one of you, 'warning, danger, hazardous
material ahead,'" Hurley said. "We think we can tell each and every one of
you to proceed with caution."

Hurley contended that Balderamma amassed his wealth through a successful
used car business and by importing furniture to the United States.

Balderamma's wife and relatives were in the courtroom Tuesday and he
exchanged glances and an occasional wink with his wife.

He yawned occasionally as U.S. District Judge Royal Furgeson read the
indictment to jurors.

Balderamma and Quiroz -- teamed with Ruben Valdez Carrasco -- were known as
"Los Tres de la Sierra," meaning "the three of the mountain."

Carrasco was arrested in Hawaii on his trip home from the Olympics.

Carrasco pleaded guilty on Oct. 25 to one count of continuing criminal
enterprise but hasn't been sentenced.

Federal drug officials have said Balderrama is believed to have been the
boss of an organization called "La Plaza" that controlled drugs passing
through the Ojinaga/Presidio area. Quiroz and Carrasco are believed to be
Balderamma's lieutenants.

Three other defendants also accused of being involved in the drug ring are
also being prosecuted in the trial, which is expected to last about six
weeks.