AGENTS BREAK UP METHAMPHETAMINE RING

WASHINGTON - Federal drug agents smashed a drug-smuggling and
distribution ring run by Middle Easterners Thursday, charging more
than 100 people with selling common cold tablets smuggled from Canada
for conversion to methamphetamine.

Sixty-seven people have been arrested and 54 other arrest warrants
were issued in Chicago, Detroit and 10 other cities, Drug Enforcement
Administration officials said. They said the alleged smugglers, the
majority of whom are from the Middle East, purchased barrels of
pseudoephedrine pills in Canada and transported them to the United
States, mainly through Detroit.

From there the pills were sold to methamphetamine laboratories in
California and Mexico, said Joseph Keefe, head of DEA's special
operations division.

Pseudoephedrine is a prescription antihistamine used in
over-the-counter cold and flu medicines that is also the main
ingredient in methamphetamine, a high-potency illegal street drug
known as "speed" or "crank."

Federal agents have executed 49 search warrants, confiscated 96 cars,
frozen bank accounts and seized up to $350,000 in connection with the
investigation.

Some of the money from the smuggling operation has been traced back
to Jordan and other Middle Eastern countries. Authorities are
investigating whether the traffickers have any ties to terrorism. So
far agents have not turned up any terrorist connections.