MAFIA SNITCH ARRESTED ON DRUG-SELLING CHARGES

PHOENIX - Former Mafia hit man Salvatore ``Sammy the Bull'' Gravano, the
mob turncoat whose testimony put crime boss John Gotti behind bars, was
arrested Thursday on drug charges.

Gravano, who moved to Arizona after entering the federal witness protection
program, was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on suspicion of drug
trafficking, The Arizona Republic reported.

Police said Gravano's criminal enterprises targeted teenagers and rave
music clubs, the newspaper reported. The drug operation, which police
allege was financed by Gravano, sold upward of 30,000 Ecstasy pills a week,
the Republic said.

Investigators planned to arrest as many as 54 people while serving warrants
at 14 businesses and homes, the newspaper said.

Gravano, who admitted to 19 murders, ravaged the Mafia by defecting to the
government, sending Gotti and dozens of other gangland cronies to prison.

Gravano served only five years for racketeering. He then entered the
witness protection program but dropped out in December 1997, saying he
wanted to live normally, not always looking over his shoulder for ``some
kid'' hoping to ``make a name for himself by taking me out.''