TESTIMONY ABRUPTLY ENDS IN FEDERAL TRIAL OF ACCUSED DRUG LORDS

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) - Testimony abruptly ended Wednesday in the drug
conspiracy trial of two reputed kingpins accused of running the biggest
cocaine cartel in Camden's history.

The defense, which had subpoenaed at least a dozen city police officers,
rested its case without calling them. Five officers nervously paced in the
hallway for several hours before the defense decision was disclosed.

Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez rejected a defense motion
Wednesday to dismiss charges against Jose "J.R." Rivera and Luis "Tun"
Figueroa.

The case will proceed to a jury to decide after hearing closing arguments
scheduled for Feb. 24. The jury began hearing testimony last month in what
has been described as one of the biggest drug prosecutions in Camden's
history.

Rivera and Figueroa are accused of conspiring to distribute hundreds of tons
of cocaine in Camden. Rivera is also accused of laundering drug profits
through his businesses.

They are the only two among 15 defendants charged in the case to stand
trial. If convicted, both face life in prison. The others pleaded guilty to
drug charges and many testified against them.

The defense argued Wednesday that prosecutors failed to make their case to
establish probable cause beyond a reasonable doubt and asked the judge to
acquit both defendants.

The judge, however, agreed with prosecutors.

"My view of the record is that there's more than sufficient evidence, if
considered in the light most favorable to the government, that the elements
of the offenses have been established," Rodriguez ruled.

In a sidebar conference with the judge, the attorneys and prosecutors,
Rivera and Figueroa said they had decided against testifying, according to
court transcripts. Both defendants told the judge they understood their
rights.

With that, both defense lawyers rested their cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney
Kevin Smith said prosecutors had no rebuttal witness to call. Rodriguez then
sent the jury home until next week.

It was a dramatic end to the trial, in its seventh week, where riveting
testimony by admitted drug dealers has implicated political figures and
police officers.

Five convicted drug dealers have testified that Mayor Milton Milan - before
becoming the city's mayor in 1997 - sold drugs and bought bulk quantities of
cocaine from the ring.

Milan is not charged in the case and has denied any wrongdoing.

Rivera's attorney, Marc Neff, had left open the possibility that the defense
would call at least one Camden police officer to testify Wednesday. It was
not revealed what the testimony would have included.

Neff, however, said he met with the witness, whom he did not identify, for
several hours Tuesday and decided not to call any additional witnesses on
behalf of Rivera. He gave no reason for the decision.

On Monday, prosecutors turned over a box of documents to the defense, and
the judge recessed the trial to give the defense time to review the
materials before calling witnesses.

The documents were believed to be evidence that could have been used to
impeach the credibility of testimony by some of the police officers. Among
those subpoenaed was a 13-year veteran captured on tape advising Rivera on
how to handle narcotics investigators.

During the federal trial, drug dealers have named current and former city
police officers who they said tipped them off to raids or shook them down
for bribes.

Authorities have said the multimillion dollar drug ring flourished in Camden
for nearly a decade, in part, because of its close ties to law enforcement.

The organization primarily supplied drugs for two open-air drug markets in
the city, authorities said. It has been described as the most entrenched
drug cartel in Camden.

Rivera, 40, of Cherry Hill, who owns a gym and an auto parts store, is the
accused financier of the drug organization. Figueroa, 34, of Camden,
prosecutors allege, was its enforcer.

Prosecutors allege the drug ring used threats, violence and even murder to
control a lucrative drug market. The organization was eventually toppled in
February 1998.

During the trial, jurors heard graphic testimony about the 1993 slaying of a
rival drug dealer who was shot because he planned to set up his own drug
set. Figueroa, identified by prosecutors as the triggerman, faces trial in
state court on a murder charge in that case.