CHARGES IN DRUG-MAIL PLOT

The wife of a U.S. Army colonel who headed U.S. anti-drug efforts in
Colombia was indicted yesterday on charges of mailing illegal drugs
from the U.S. Embassy in Colombia to a Jackson Heights address.

Laurie Anne Hiett, 36, was named in a 13-count indictment unsealed
yesterday in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, charging her with
conspiring with two others to possess, distribute and import heroin
and cocaine between April and June.

Charged yesterday with Hiett in the indictment were Jorge Ayala, a
civilian driver of U.S. military commanders in Colombia, and Hernan
Arcila, the Jackson Heights man who allegedly was the recipient of two
packages Hiett allegedly sent from the post office for U.S. citizens
inside the U.S. Embassy in Bogota.

U.S. Customs agents were able to intercept two of the shoebox-size
packages Hiett allegedly sent to Arcila. Federal agents said they
later searched Arcila's home and discovered records containing a bank
account number with Ayala's name while U.S. Customs records showed at
least four similar packages Hiett allegedly sent from the embassy to a
private post office box in Manhattan.

The parcels, weighing about 1.2 kilos each, contained what federal
officials initially believed was cocaine worth a street value of about
$180,00. But subsequent lab tests showed the presence of heroin,
authorities said.

Which drugs were in the packages could mean a substantially longer
prison term if Hiett is convicted, because the sentence is determined
by the value of the drug being trafficked. The wholesale value of
heroin is five times more than that of cocaine, federal officials said.

Arcila was charged in State Supreme Court in Queens on state drug
charges. He will be turned over to federal authorities to face federal
drug charges, law enforcement officials said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Dunst, who is prosecuting the case,
declined comment. Yesterday, Hiett's lawyer, Paul Lazarus of Miami,
said, "This case is a national tragedy." If the drugs Hiett is accused
of mailing turn out to be all heroin, she could face a maximum of more
than 15 years in prison. If they are cocaine, she could face up to 12
years if convicted.

Court records show Hiatt has waived her rights to a speedy trial,
allowing time for plea negotiations. She is free on $150,000 bond and
is living in Virginia with her husband. Ayala remains a fugitive.