WIFE OF DRUG FIGHTER CHARGED IN COCAINE RING

While Army Col. James Hiett was fighting the war on drugs in Colombia,
federal authorities say, his wife was conspiring with the enemy.

Laurie Anne Hiett, 36, is accused of shipping cocaine from Bogota,
Colombia, to New York as part of a small Colombian narcotics ring, and even
marking her return address on some shipments.

Laurie Hiett, who denied the allegations, surrendered Thursday in New York
on drug conspiracy charges. She was released on $150,000 bail. If
convicted, she faces up to 12 years in prison. Her attorney declined to
comment Friday.

The Army insists James Hiett, head of U.S. anti-drug operations in
Colombia, was unaware of the alleged crimes. An investigation cleared him
of any criminal activity.

The investigation of Laurie Hiett started in May when U.S. Customs agents
conducting a routine search in Miami intercepted a package containing 1.2
kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated $30,000.

Authorities say the package was marked with Laurie Hiett's return address
and was shipped from the U.S. Embassy in Bogota to a New York address.

When undercover officers went to the address, they found more cocaine and
documents naming Jorge Ayala, a civilian driver for U.S. military
commanders in Colombia. They also arrested Hernan Arcila, who said he had
received five or six packages.

Army officials in Bogota found that Laurie Hiett sent several packages to
either Arcila's home or a post office box rented by his sister. They said
paperwork signed by Laurie Hiett listed the contents as books, candy,
coffee and Colombian artifacts.

When Laurie Hiett was confronted by investigators in June, she said she had
shipped the packages for Ayala and didn't know what was in them. But the
investigators said became flustered in a second interview and "stated, in
substance, ' I'm afraid they'll kill me.' "