REPUTED DRUG LORD ENTERS GUILTY PLEAS

MIAMI - A reputed Haitian drug lord charged with coordinating the movement
of 33 tons of Colombian drug shipments through Haiti on their way to the
United States pleaded guilty Thursday to two of five counts against him.

Beaudoin "Jacques" Ketant, 40, pleaded guilty to two drug charges,
according to U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno's office. A sentencing
hearing was set for Dec. 4.

Ketant's attorney and prosecutors did not immediately return phone messages
Thursday.

Ketant was indicted six years ago but lived the good life in a hilltop
Haitian mansion until a brawl at his son's elite school pushed the Haitian
government to expel him in June.

He was accused of paying off one-time Haitian strongman Joseph Michel
Francois as well as airport employees in Miami, New York and Port-au-
Prince to ignore cocaine and heroin couriers.

Ketant allegedly arranged for drug couriers to transport cocaine for the
Cali, Medellin and Baranquilla cartels from Colombia, Panama and Curacao
through Haiti to the United States from 1987 to 1996.

Co-defendants who went on trial in 1998 received prison sentences ranging
from six years to life.

The airport security chief in Port-au-Prince and a Miami immigration
inspector were among those convicted.