DEFENSE CASE BEGINS IN DRUG TRIAL

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) - At least a dozen Camden police officers have been
subpoenaed to possibly testify as defense witnesses in the trial of
two accused drug lords, a defense lawyer said Monday.

The prosecution, meanwhile, wrapped up its case Monday, with its star
witness, the second-highest ranking member of the largest cocaine
cartel in Camden's history, completing three days of testimony.

Jose "JR" Rivera, 40, of Cherry Hill, and Luis "Tun Tun" Figueroa, 34,
of Camden, are accused of conspiring to distribute hundreds of tons of
cocaine in the city. Rivera is also accused of laundering drug profits
through his businesses.

During the federal trial, in its seventh week, 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.

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.

It was unclear what testimony the police officers subpoenaed last week
by Rivera's attorney, Marc Neff, might offer if called when the trial
resumes Wednesday.

"Wait and see," said Neff.

Rivera, the accused financier of the drug organization, and Figueroa,
the alleged enforcer, are the only two among 15 defendants charged in
the case to stand trial. Both face life in prison if convicted.

In other testimony Monday, the prosecution's final witness, Saul
"Gordo" Febo, again admitted his role in the 1993 slaying of a rival
drug dealer, but identified Figueroa as the triggerman.

Febo, 32, said he had no choice but to go along with the plan when
summoned by Figueroa. Febo said he turned up the volume on the radio
to muffle gunshots fired by Figueroa.

"I didn't want the guys to think I was a punk," he
said.

In one of the most bizarre moments in the trial, Figueroa's attorney,
Carlos Martir, asked Febo about a tattoo on his stomach - one of 14 he
has.

"You want to see it?" Febo said.

Febo stood up at the witness stand and pulled up his white T-shirt to
display the arch-shaped message above his navel. It read: "F--- the
FBI."

"Today being Valentine's Day you might want to change it to 'I Love
the FBI,"' bantered Martir.

"No," replied Febo. "Happy Valentine's Day."

At least five Camden officers were waiting in the courtroom hallway to
be called to testify. U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez sent the
jury home in the mid-afternoon, saying the next witness would not be
available until Wednesday.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Smith said the trial was recessed to
allow the defense time to review a box of documents it received Monday
from the prosecution. The documents are believed to be evidence that
could impeach the credibility of testimony by some of the police officers.

Officer Michael Hearne, a 13-year department veteran, was among the
officers at the courthouse. His attorney, Stanley O. King, said the
defense informed him that they no longer plan to call him as a witness.

"We really don't know where this is going," King said. "He was just
one of many cops that were called. We don't know, quite honestly, how
they plan to use them."

Hearne was captured on a tape recording played in the trial allegedly
advising Rivera on how to handle narcotics investigators in June 1997.
The conversation was secretly recorded by a drug dealer-turned informant.

"Don't do nothing. Don't do nothing," Hearne is heard telling
Rivera.

King said Hearne maintains his innocence and denies any involvement
with the drug organization. Hearne, 35, is still on the police force.

Authorities said the ring had connections in the police department
that allowed it to keep a step ahead of investigators. Police officers
were known to frequent Rivera's gym in Camden and escort him to the
bank to make large deposits.

Milan's former police bodyguard has admitted selling Rivera an illegal
assault weapon. Febo testified last week that another police detective
once assigned to the mayor's security detail warned him about raids.

Camden Police Chief Robert Allenbach has said the allegations against
the officers will be investigated when the trial is over.