COURT SAYS 2-TON COCAINE CASE IS BEYOND U.S. JURISDICTION

MIAMI - In a landmark ruling, an appeals court has dismissed a case
against a Saudi prince's former lover and a Colombian man convicted
two years ago of conspiring to smuggle two tons of cocaine.

The pair were found guilty of using the prince's Boeing 727 to
transport cocaine from Venezuela to France. But a three-judge panel
at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that no crime had
been committed "against the United States," because the drugs never
touched U.S. soil and were never intended for the American market.

Miami real estate agent Doris Mangeri and businessman Ivan Lopez were
sentenced to 24 and 23 years in jail, respectively, for their role in
the drug shipments.

Defense attorneys want Mangeri and Lopez released on bail, but
prosecutors are strongly opposed, arguing that the pair partnered
with a trafficking group that smuggled 50 tons of cocaine through the
ports of Miami, Houston and New York.

The ruling could also end the government's case against two others
charged in the case, including Saudi Sheik Nayef bin Sultan bin
Fawwaz Al-Shaalan, who is a member of the Saudi royal family. U.S.
officials were never able to arrest Al-Shaalan, a former University
of Miami student, who is believed to be living in Saudi Arabia.

In a court motion opposing bail, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline
Arango said the court's ruling sent a message "that narcotics dealers
of the highest caliber are free to congregate here to plan worldwide
narcotics distribution ... as long as they do not include the United
States in a planned distribution."

But Lopez's attorney, Richard Strafer, an appeals specialist, said
the government had failed to understand the law as intended by
Congress. "Conversations about drugs do not amount to possession" he said.

Mangeri's defense attorney, Douglas Williams, said the appeals court
ruling vindicated his efforts to have the case thrown out from its
inception. "The court is saying this case was flawed from the get-go," he said.

Lopez and Mangeri are not completely out of the woods. The government
can ask for the appeal to be reheard before the entire appellate
court. Lopez and Mangeri could also face extradition to France where
investigations into the drug shipments are pending.