BENIN ENVOY ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGE

COTONOU, Benin (AP) Police arrested Benin's ambassador to the United
Nations on Wednesday for his alleged involvement in a drug-trafficking
ring.

Ambassador Yacoubou Adam Fassassi was arrested in Benin after
appearing before a district judge, according to a brief radio
statement read by state Prosecutor Honore Koukoui.

An investigation into a suspected drug-trafficking ring involving
diplomats from the West African nation had implicated Fassassi and
three other officials who were also being detained, Koukoui said.

The investigation was prompted by the arrest in June of a Beninois
diplomat in the United States on cocaine possession charges, the
statement said. No other details were given.

The ring, which operated with the backing of several of the West
African country's diplomats, also included some of their friends and
Beninois businessmen, police said.

Fassassi, a commerce minister under Benin's previous government, is
the most senior official in the group.