COLOMBIA POLICE SEIZE ANOTHER BUMPER COCAINE HAUL

BOGOTA, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Anti-narcotics police seized 3,080 pounds (1,400
kg) of pure cocaine stashed in a cargo of bananas bound for Europe in
Colombia's northern port city of Santa Marta, authorities said on Tuesday.

According to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) statistics, the
latest haul seized Monday would be worth some $2.4 million wholesale in the
United States and more in Europe.

It was the second bumper drug consignment seized this month on Colombia's
Caribbean coast. Police found more than seven tons of cocaine (7,000 kg)
due for shipment to the United States and Europe via Cuba in Cartagena on
Dec. 3.

Colombian police have made record drug hauls totalling more than 53 tons
(53,000 kg) of cocaine so far this year. The DEA estimates Colombia's
supplies 80 percent of the world's cocaine and up to 60 percent of the
high-grade heroin sold on U.S. streets.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski