Pubdate: Sat, 27 Mar 2004 Source: Tallahassee Democrat (FL) Copyright: 2004 Tallahassee Democrat. Contact: http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/democrat/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/444 Author: Democrat News Services Note: Prints email address for LTEs sent by email Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) $19 MILLION DRUG STASH SEIZED IN CARIBBEAB MIAMI - Federal officials seized more than $19 million worth of cocaine and marijuana in two separate operations in the Caribbean Sea this week, authorities said Friday. The U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement said about 2,400 pounds of cocaine and 700 pounds of marijuana were seized in the two drug stings. The Coast Guard intercepted a speedboat Thursday 25 miles south of Andros Island, Bahamas. A boarding team found 25 bales of drugs on board containing 550 pounds of marijuana and 190 pounds of cocaine. Officials took three men into custody and handed them over to Bahamian authorities. A Customs patrol aircraft spotted a speedboat Wednesday heading into the Caribbean east of Nicaragua. When two Coast Guard cutters intercepted the boat and ordered it to stop, the suspects began throwing bales of cocaine overboard. Forty bales were recovered. The vessel and the drugs were turned over to Nicaraguan naval officials but the suspects escaped. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin