U.S. OFFICER DETAINED IN S. KOREA

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- A U.S. Air Force captain has been arrested
by the U.S. military for allegedly smuggling 5 1/2 pounds of cocaine,
South Korean prosecutors said Tuesday.

The officer had 4 pounds at his off-post home in Seoul, said Lim
Yang-yoon, an official at the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office.

The U.S. military confirmed the apprehension, but declined to reveal
further details.

``He is in custody, but no charges have yet been filed,'' said Stephen
Oertwig, a spokesman for the U.S. military command. He declined to
give the officer's name and hometown.

Oertwig said that the U.S. military believes the cocaine is valued at
no more than $100,000.

The officer's alleged involvement in drug trafficking was discovered
while South Korean officials were investigating local drug peddlers.

South Korea has seen a steep rise in narcotics-related crimes in
recent years. Last year, 10,589 people were charged with drug
trafficking, a 26.8-percent increase from 8,350 cases in 1998.

``This figure is only for those arrested. The total number of
drug-users is estimated at around 200,000,'' said Lee Kyong, an
official at the National Prosecutors' Office.

About 13 pounds of cocaine and other drugs were seized in South Korea
during the first quarter of this year, up 56 percent from the same
period last year, he said.