CUSTOMS AGENTS FIND COCAINE ON COLOMBIAN AIR FORCE PLANE

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (CNN) -- U.S. Customs Service agents held a
Colombian Air Force cargo plane in Florida Tuesday, while investigators
tried to determine why 1,639 pounds of cocaine was hidden on board. Customs
agents were conducting a routine search of the plane Monday when they
noticed unusual rivets and the smell of fresh glue on several metal cargo
pallets on the C-130 transport. That prompted them to bring drug-sniffing
dogs on board. Based on the dogs' reactions, the agents drilled holes in
four pallets and found the cocaine inside.

Customs officials estimate that if drug dealers sold the 1,639 pounds
wholesale in south Florida, it could have brought $12.7 million.

The six crew members and a family of five on board were questioned and
released Tuesday. No direct evidence could be found connecting them with
the drugs. No one has been arrested. The passengers and crew were
cooperating with the investigation, according to the State Department.

U.S. Customs Commissioner Raymond Kelly called the incident "disturbing"
but said his agency is getting cooperation from the Colombian government.

U.S. State Department Spokesman James Rubin said Tuesday, "The Colombian
government has been notified and has been fully cooperating with this
investigation from the start. ... This incident need have no effect
whatsoever on our views of President (Andres) Pastrana's determination to
work with us to fight the importation -- export of drugs from Colombia."

General offers resignation Colombia's Air Force Chief Gen. Manuel Sandoval
offered his resignation over the incident, but he denied the Air Force was
systematically involved in drug trafficking.

"In this case, as commander, I assume the responsibility," he said. "I have
submitted my resignation to the president of the republic."

Three junior Air Force officers were sentenced last week in Colombia to
prison terms for a 1996 incident in which 4 kilograms of heroin was found
aboard Colombia's presidential jet shortly before it was to fly former
President Ernesto Samper to New York for a meeting of the U.N. General
Assembly.

The judge who handed down the sentence said there was evidence of
involvement by senior Air Force officers in drug trafficking and referred
to the existence of a "blue cartel," a reference to the color of Colombian
Air Force uniforms.

Colombia is the world's leading cocaine producer and an increasingly
important supplier of the heroin sold on U.S. streets. The United States is
the world's largest market for illicit drugs.

The cargo plane makes several trips to Fort Lauderdale each month from
Colombia to pick up supplies and has been searched before, Customs
officials said. This is the first time drugs have been found.

A State Department official said the flight was carrying equipment for
repair in the United States, including an aircraft engine and three small
crates with aircraft parts.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski