UNDERWORLD LEADER ARRESTED, DRUG RING SMASHED, POLICE SAY

TORONTO, CANADA -- Police said Wednesday they had arrested a top underworld
figure and eight other members of a major crime family in Canada,
effectively smashing the world's largest drug-smuggling and money-laundering
ring.

After a two-year, four-nation investigation, a force led by Royal Canadian
Mounted Police swooped early Wednesday on the powerful Sicilian
Cuntrera-Caruana family, arresting nine people and seizing an undisclosed
amount of drugs, cash and jewelry in Toronto, Montreal, Houston and in
Mexico.

Police said they had arrested Sicilian-born Alfonso Caruana, 52, the senior
member of the alleged crime family, which operates in 13 countries from
Aruba to Venezuela.

Caruana already had been convicted in absentia and sentenced to prison by an
Italian tribunal. Those arrested are expected to be charged with drug
trafficking, importing and conspiracy to import a controlled substance.
Italy and the U.S. have demanded that Caruana be extradited to their
countries for trial.

Police from Canada, the United States, Mexico and Italy had been
investigating the case for several months.

Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"