MORE THAN $19 MILLION WORTH OF DRUGS SEIZED IN THE CARIBBEAN BY FEDERAL
OFFICIALS

MIAMI -- Federal officials seized more than $19 million worth of
cocaine and marijuana in two separate operations in the Caribbean Sea
this week, authorities said Friday.

The U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement said
approximately 2,400 pounds of cocaine and 700 pounds of marijuana were
seized in the two drug stings.

The Coast Guard intercepted a speedboat Thursday 25 miles south of
Andros Island, Bahamas. A boarding team found 25 bales of drugs on
board containing 550 pounds of marijuana and 190 pounds of cocaine.
Officials took three men into custody and handed them over to Bahamian
authorities.

A suspicious low-flying aircraft believed to be involved was not located.

A Customs patrol aircraft spotted a speedboat Wednesday heading into
the Caribbean east of Nicaragua. When two Coast Guard cutters
intercepted the boat and ordered it to stop, the suspects began
throwing bales of cocaine overboard.

Forty bales were recovered. The vessel and the drugs were turned over
to Nicaraguan naval officials but the suspects escaped after grounding
their boat onto the Nicaraguan shore.