$280M DRIVE TO TACKLE WORLD CRIME

President Clinton will today announce the first US government blueprint to
combat organised international crime in a $280 million (#106 million)
package designed to intercept drugs and illegal immigrants, target offshore
money-laundering operations and bolster intelligence techniques.

The International Crime Control Strategy will fight four big threats to the
United States from sophisticated criminal syndicates: drug trafficking; the
acquisition or sale of weapons; transfer of sensitive American technology to
rogue states; and the trade in women and children.

An unholy alliance of terrorists, international criminals and drug
traffickers is now viewed as the most dangerous threat to the United States.
Russian crime syndicates, for example, are now working with Colombian drug
barons using money laundered by Mexican, Asian and East European crime
groups.

"This is where the threats are now," a White House official said.

Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"