US WANTS DRUG TRAFFICKERS EXTRADITED

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, March 4 (UPI) - The Clinton administration has asked
Pakistan to extradite 22 suspected drug traffickers to the United States.

``They are wanted in drug offences in the United States and we want them
extradited,'' said James McHugh, U.S. Councilor for Drug Affairs.

``We believe that these 22 traffickers are the big fish and catching them
will help end the drug menace in Pakistan,'' he said.

Earlier this year, Pakistan unveiled a plan to completely eradicate
narcotics by 2000. ``We will help Pakistan achieve this target,'' McHugh said.

There are two million drug addicts in Pakistan compared to 26 million in
the United States, said McHugh adding that it was in Pakistan's interest to
eradicate the drug trade.

Pakistan receives $200 million a year from the United States to combat
narcotics.

McHugh said Afghanistan was the major source of raw opium and heroin
consumed in Pakistan.

He said 80 percent of heroin currently sold in Europe also comes from
Afghanistan. Only 20 percent of heroin sold in the United States comes from
this region.

McHugh said the United States had no evidence to support a claim by the
Pakistan government that Asif Zardari, husband of the former Pakistani
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, was involved in drug trafficking.

``We have no evidence against any senior Pakistani politician or government
official,'' he said. He urged Pakistan to change the judicial system that
allows the major drug traffickers to escape justice.

Last week, Washington certified that Pakistan was offering its full
cooperation with U.S. efforts to combat the international narcotics trade.

A country declare non-cooperative is unable to receive U.S. financial
assistance. Pakistan earned this certificate after four years. Before that
Pakistan used to receive an annual presidential waiver.