N.Y. HIGH ON FOREIGN DRUG BUSTS

April 22, 2002 -- Manhattan U.S. Attorney James Comey has formed a new unit
of prosecutors to take down top-level drug traffickers.

The International Narcotics Traffickers unit is designed to take advantage
of new extradition laws that have been passed recently in South and Central
American countries.

The INT, selected from veteran federal narcotics prosecutors and led by
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Sullivan, will focus on cutting down the
biggest importers of heroin and cocaine, Comey said.

Manhattan prosecutors have already corralled some of the top cartel leaders
in Colombia and Mexico in recent years, and the feds clearly want to catch
more of the powerful drug lords.

The unit will focus almost exclusively on making cases against the top drug
kingpins and convincing foreign governments to hand them over for trial.

In a recent speech, Comey said his New York office had become a
"pre-eminent" site for prosecuting smugglers - because so much of the
contraband enters America through the city's ports and airports.

The push comes as Colombian drug lords are increasingly relying on
Argentinean routes to bring drugs into the country.