POLICE COCAINE THEFT UNSOLVED YEARS LATER

It's been 3 1/2 years since someone busted open a lock and stole more
than 17 pounds of cocaine from a Birmingham police locker - and still
no one has been brought to justice.

Many suspect no one ever will, but authorities beg to
differ.

"It's still very much a significant and high-priority case, but
admittedly the progress has been slow," said FBI spokesman Craig
Dahle. "It's not a closed case by any means."

The cocaine was recovered from an Ensley neighborhood in March 1996,
but the drugs never made it to the department's property room. On Aug.
21, someone broke into the locker and lifted the drugs that were
stashed inside in a small duffel bag.

Former Birmingham Police Chief Johnnie Johnson in 1997 said publicly
what many speculated privately - that he believes a police officer or
officers took the drugs.

Birmingham police have long since finished their internal probe and
handed the case over to the FBI.

"We're greatly concerned about that and we're anxiously waiting the
outcome," said police spokesman Lt. Moody Duff. "There have been a lot
of rumors all over town, but we're continuing to wait on the official
report from the FBI."