SHIPS' SEIZURES LINKED, PROSECUTORS SAY

TAMPA - Federal prosecutors acknowledged Monday that last week's
seizure of a Colombian shrimping boat said to be carrying nearly 4
tons of cocaine is linked to a similar seizure last month.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Ruddy told U.S. Magistrate Elizabeth
Jenkins there are ``common co-conspirators'' in the new case, which
involves a ship called the Layneyd, and the trawler seized last month,
the Rebelde.

Both vessels were seized hundreds of miles off the coast of Ecuador
after Coast Guard officials allegedly found cocaine hidden aboard
them. The captains and crews were taken into custody, brought to Tampa
and indicted on federal cocaine charges.

Ruddy did not elaborate on the connection but told Jenkins that
defense attorney Danny Castillo, who is representing a member of the
Rebelde crew, would have a conflict of interest if he is retained to
defend the Layneyd's captain.

Jenkins said she would consider holding a special hearing if
Castillo's involvement became an issue.

Ruddy also said Monday that the government has independent information
that the Layneyd's captain, Segundo Quinones, and one of his mates,
Cesar Dominguez, have made frequent drug runs aboard the ship.

Both Quinones and crew members told agents after their arrest that
cocaine was aboard, but the crew said they did not know about it until
the ship left port, Ruddy said.

All five mates were ordered held without bail until trial. Jenkins
scheduled a detention hearing for Quinones on May 10 after Castillo
said he needed more time to prepare.