Pubdate: Tue, 20 Feb 2001
Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2001 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Contact:  PO Box 120191, San Diego, CA, 92112-0191
Fax: (619) 293-1440
Website: http://www.uniontrib.com/
Forum: http://www.uniontrib.com/cgi-bin/WebX

SPANIARDS SEIZE 5 TONS OF COCAINE

MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Spanish police said they seized about 5 tons of 
cocaine yesterday in a major anti-drug operation.

The drug was found on the ship Abrente when it was boarded before dawn, 
some 350 miles west of Spain's Canary Island archipelago. Officials said 13 
suspects were arrested.

The government said customs police had been watching the vessel during the 
past year as it docked frequently in the Canary Islands and on mainland 
Spain to unload fish.

Last month, the ship sailed to an unspecified place in the south Atlantic 
to pick up the cocaine, which came from Colombia, the ministry said.
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