COLOMBIA SEIZES HUGE DRUG STASH

ISLA FUERTE, Colombia -- A Colombian Navy task force Tuesday seized 1.7
tonnes of pure cocaine stashed in a hide-out on a tropical island just off
the country's Caribbean coast.

The drugs were packed in more than 50 sacks weighing about 66 pounds each
and also in smaller backpacks.

Rear Admiral Jairo Cardona said 44 marines assisted by sniffer dogs found
the multimillion dollar haul a short distance from a peasant house, but no
arrests were made.

He said the consignment was probably due to be sent from Isla Fuerte, in
Colombia's Gulf of Morrosquillo, to Central America by high-speed boat.

So far this year Colombian authorities have seized about 21 tonnes of
cocaine, according to police figures, compared to a total 31 tonnes
confiscated during the whole of 1997.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration estimates Colombia is responsible
for 80 percent of the world's cocaine supply and says it has also become a
major player in the heroin trade.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett