COLOMBIA MAKES DRUG ARRESTS

BOGOTA, Colombia - Colombia's secret police said Wednesday they broke up a
cocaine and weapons smuggling ring linked to right-wing paramilitaries but
had not arrested any member of the outlawed militia group.

The announcement coincided with the departure of President Andres Pastrana
for Washington, where he faces criticism that his government is not doing
enough to combat the paramilitary force.

Col. German Jaramillo, director of the secret police, told reporters that
14 people were arrested, including Luis Alberto Castillo, a former mayor of
San Bernardo village, located on an island in the Caribbean off Colombia's
northwest coast.

None of the 14 belonged to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia,
Jaramillo said, but he insisted the ring had "tight links" with the
paramilitary group, which has been fighting leftist rebels.

Jaramillo said the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration provided technical
assistance in the operation. He claimed the ring smuggled cocaine to
Central America in boats and returned with rifles for the paramilitary group.