POLICE SEIZE TURKISH HEROIN BOUND FOR SPAIN

BARCELONA, March 3 (Reuters) - Police seized 890 kilos (1,960 lbs) of
heroin and arrested 10 members of an international drugs ring importing
heroin from Turkey to Spain, Spanish state radio said on Wednesday.

Police swooped on the gang as they were preparing to bring the heroin into
Spain hidden in boxes of towels to be imported by a clothing company. Most
of the heroin was confiscated before leaving Turkey.

"The volume of the drugs seized... and the number of people arrested gives
an idea of the importance of the organisation that we have uncovered,"
Julio Fernandez, head of the Barcelona police drugs unit, said on the radio.

The suspected leader of the gang was a Turkish citizen living in Barcelona
who directed operations under the cover of a clothing company. The heroin
was destined for distribution throughout Europe, particularly Britain and
Belgium.

Eight people were arrested in Barcelona, one in Valencia and one in Turkey.