Brazil fears giant rescue bid to free drug suspect

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 28 (Reuter) Brazilian authorities fear the Medellin
drug cartel may launch a ``giant operation'' to rescue a Colombian woman who
is in jail in Rio while awaiting extradition to the United States, according
to court documents.

Mary Valencia, 43, who was arrested in February, is an important Colombian
crime figure and there are signs cartel members ``are planning a giant
operation to rescue her, including on Brazilian territory,'' the documents
said without elaborating.

Valencia was questioned on Monday by Judge Ilmar Galvao of Brazil's highest
court at a Rio police station rather than in the Supreme Federal Tribunal
(STF) ``for security reasons,'' a court spokesman said.

Valencia is accused of selling 1,595 pounds (725 kg) of cocaine in California
over a 17year period and U.S. authorities have requested her extradition,
the documents said.

The full 11member STF is expected to rule on the extradition request, but no
date has been set.