6 TONS OF COCAINE SEIZED IN PACIFIC

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - An American naval ship intercepted a fishing boat
in the Pacific laden with six tons of cocaine, officials said Thursday.

Colombian Navy chief Adm. Sergio Garcia said the Colombian-flagged vessel
named "Rebel" was seized in international waters Wednesday, 1,530 miles
northwest of the South American country's port of Buenaventura.

The 66-foot vessel and its seven-member Colombian crew left the Pacific
port on Jan. 22 with the "approximately six tons" of cocaine hidden stashed
in its fuel compartment, Garcia said.

Garcia attributed the seizure to enhanced anti-narcotics cooperation under
a maritime agreement between the United States and Colombia. He said the
Colombians aboard would be taken to the United States to face charges.

The giant drug seizure follows the opening of debate in the U.S. Congress
this week on the Clinton Administration's proposed $1.6 billion
anti-narcotics package for the South American country.

The aid would pay largely for military helicopters and training of new army
battalions tasked with helping police eradicate the illegal crops used to
make cocaine and heroin.

Colombia produces 80 percent of the global supply of cocaine and is
becoming a major heroin exporter to the United States.