POLICE AGENCIES GET DRUG PROCEEDS

U.S. Attorney Guy Lewis on Thursday handed six law enforcement agencies
about $4.7 million in seized drug proceeds -- cash found in the home of a
convicted associate of alleged Miami cocaine kingpin Sal Magluta.

``It's the best thing in the world to put these people in jail,'' Lewis
said. ``It's even better to take away their money.''

The money came from $7.4 million in assets forfeited by Luis Valverde, a
former $43,000-a-year refrigerator mechanic with Miami-Dade County schools.
Agents found $6.1 million in the attic of his home at 8401 SW 78th St. in 1999.

Valverde was among five convicted underlings of an organization allegedly
run by Magluta and partner Willie Falcon. The five were charged in a 1999
indictment alleging a $25 million conspiracy to launder drug cash, bribe
jurors, intimidate witnesses and obstruct justice to get their bosses out
of jail.

Magluta and Falcon -- acquitted of drug smuggling in a sensational 1996
trial tainted by a bribed jury foreman -- face trial next year on
conspiracy charges to obstruct justice.

Prosecutors said they have won 36 convictions of associates allegedly
linked to the Magluta-Falcon enterprise since that trial five years ago.

The government not only seized the cash from Valverde's home, but also
money from the sale of his house, safe-deposit boxes, bank accounts, sport
utility vehicles -- even snowmobiles from another residence in Wisconsin.

The city of Miami and Miami-Dade County police departments received the
lion's share, about $1.2 million each.

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, New
York City Police Department and Internal Revenue Service got about $590,000
each.

The rest of the money from Valverde's seized assets went to the Department
of Justice.

Miami Police Chief Raul Martinez said the forfeiture had ``special
meaning'' because he recalled arresting Magluta and Falcon on narcotics
charges in Operation Video Canary during the late 1970s. ``They were
puppies back then,'' Martinez said.

Magluta and Falcon -- 46-year-old Miami High School dropouts who went on to
become racing boat champions during the heydays of the 1980s cocaine trade
- -- remain in custody on passport fraud and weapons charges, respectively.