HOWARD SAYS TO DISCUSS DRUG-BUSTING WITH FBI BOSS

WELLINGTON, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister John Howard said
on Monday he would discuss ways to combat drugs when he meets U.S. Federal
Bureau of Investigation director Louis Freeh later this week.

"We obviously want to share the experiences of the FBI in relation to the
role of federal agencies in combating the drug menace," Howard told
reporters during a visit to New Zealand.

Howard said a year ago that 300,000 Australians had tried heroin illegally
and 526 died from the drug in 1996.

He said he would discuss greater international cooperation between law
enforcement agencies with Freeh in Australia on Friday.

"One of the benefits that have already flowed from the extra resources we
have put into law enforcement is that we have had more AFP (Australian
Federal Police) presence in source countries and that has aided the process
of interception."

Howard said Australia ought to be open-minded in considering factors such
as New York's "zero tolerance" policy on crime.

Asked if his comments indicated more resources to fight drugs, he said: "It
is not necessarily such an indication, but I do not rule that out." He said
he did not want to politicise the issue and was prepared to work with state
premiers.

Freeh is expected to discuss in New Zealand and Australia in the next two
weeks security arrangements for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
leaders meeting in Auckland in September and the Sydney Olympic Games in
2000.