HONDURAN KIDS USED TO PEDDLE DRUGS IN CANADA

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (Reuters) -- Honduran children are being used by drug
gangs to peddle cocaine in Canadian cities, a childrens' rights group said
on Friday.

Pressure group Casa Alianza said it was sending two investigators to Canada
shortly ``to support investigations and the rescue of Honduran children
being exploited'' there.

Casa Alianza officials said several children from the Central American
country had swallowed stones of the drug crack, derived from cocaine, and
were seriously ill in Canadian hospitals after being caught by Vancouver
police.

``The children are being used as little mules to transport and sell the
drug,'' Casa Alianza's Latin American director Bruce Harris said.

The group said it suspected about 200 Honduran children aged 10-13 were
involved.

It added that the drug gangs had set up smuggling and distribution networks
stretching from Honduras through Mexico to the United States and Canada.

Checked-by: Don Beck