$19 MILLION DRUG STASH SEIZED IN CARIBBEAB

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 about 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 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.