REPUTED HEAD OF DRUG RING TAKEN TO U.S. AFTER ARREST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26 -- Wrapping up a huge international anti-drug
operation, the United States has brought the reputed leader of an
international cocaine smuggling ring to Florida to face federal charges,
the United States Customs Service announced today. Along with additional
arrests by South American and European authorities, the apprehension of
Ivan de la Vega effectively brought to a close one of the broadest
international anti-drug operations ever mounted, one that involved
authorities from 12 nations, officials said today in Washington.

A freighter, one of several said to have been used in the global
trafficking scheme, is also being confiscated, the officials said.

"This case demonstrates what can be achieved when nations of the world work
together against a common enemy," Customs Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly
said in the statement.

The smuggling operation was based in Colombia and Venezuela, and Venezuelan
officials arrested Mr. de la Vega, a Colombian citizen accused of leading
the drug organization, on Aug. 16, as part of a series of raids that used
about 200 anti-drug officers with an array of helicopters, airplanes and
boats, the authorities said. A United States Navy ship stopped the
Maltese-flagged ship, the Suerte I, off the coast of Grenada on Aug. 17
after Venezuelan authorities had intercepted smaller boatloads of cocaine
headed to the Suerte I with cocaine on board. No cocaine was found in a
search of the larger vessel.

Also arrested and sent to Florida for prosecution was Luis Antonio Navia, a
Cuban national with United States residence status who was a fugitive
wanted on prior federal drug charges.

Meanwhile, in Europe, authorities in Greece made eight arrests in
connection with shipping firms that they said were linked to the operation.
There were also two related arrests in Italy and another in France.

The American officials said that arrests and seizures effectively wrapped
up a two-year, multinational crackdown that resulted in the seizure of
nearly 25 tons of cocaine. That much cocaine would have a street value in
Europe of roughly $1 billion if sold in individual doses, they said. The
drug ring is thought to have transported as much as 68 tons of cocaine to
Europe and the United States during the past three years.