OFFICIALS DEFEND WAY SHIP WAS SEIZED

It's been a central question in the wake of the U.S. Coast Guard's boarding
and seizure of the 83-foot Colombian trawler Rebelde off Ecuador four
months ago:

Did the government comply with an international treaty requiring Colombia's
permission to board?

Federal prosecutors now say they did. In recently filed court papers,
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Ruddy says U.S. officials followed
international law when taking over the Rebelde, which they say was loaded
with nearly 5 tons of cocaine.

The prosecutor produced supporting documents, including an affidavit from a
Coast Guard commander who said his agency contacted the Colombians before
and after the boarding on Feb. 17, and a letter of consent dated four days
later from the Colombian Navy.

Ruddy's remarks were the government's first public response to allegations
raised in March by defense attorneys who are seeking to have a resulting
indictment thrown out.

Danny Castillo, a Tampa lawyer representing the ship's captain, had not
received the government's response Wednesday but noted that the Coast Guard
affidavit was signed May 17.

``They come up with this two months after the fact, after I file my
motion,'' he said.

The battle over jurisdiction is believed to be a significant one in a
significant case. The cocaine stash was the largest ever brought into Tampa
Bay and one of the biggest in state history.

Weeks after the Rebelde was intercepted, the Coast Guard seized another
Colombian vessel in the same waters. That ship, the Layneyd, was said to be
carrying almost 4 tons of cocaine.

Ruddy has acknowledged the two cases are related but won't say what links
the ships to Florida.

``The government is painting this case with a broad brush,'' Castillo said.
``They can't just say they have jurisdiction. They have to put me on notice
about what it is I am called to defend.''