BOX MAILED TO MIAMI HERALD CONTAINED MORE THAN $1 MILLION WORTH OF COCAINE,
HEROIN

MIAMI (January 7, 1998 08:54 a.m. EST http://www.nando.net) -- A business
editor who opened two heavy cartons mailed to The Miami Herald said she
thought they contained books. She instead found packages of cocaine and
heroin believed to be worth $1 million.

The 53 pounds of drugs wrapped in duct tape were mailed to the paper's
business department but not addressed to anyone in particular. The return
address included a man's name and a Bogota, Colombia, address.

Federal drug agents had followed the package into The Herald's building to
see who would claim it, according to the Wednesday edition of the
newspaper.

"This was a U.S. Customs operation," said Herald attorney Sam Terilli.
"They called. We cooperated. Our role was simple: Explain our procedures,
give them access to the building and get out of the way."

Investigators questioned the editor who opened the box, which was marked
"libros," Spanish for books. They said the woman, who was not named, was
not considered a suspect.

The Herald said it will await the outcome of a possible criminal case
before starting its own investigation.