Pubdate: Wed, 16 June 1999
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Copyright: 1999 The Washington Post Company
Address: 1150 15th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20071
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Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Author: Compiled from news services

U.S. NATIVE ALLEGED TO LEAD BRAZIL DRUG RING

SAO PAULO -- Police say they have uncovered an elaborate drug-trafficking
ring masterminded by an American expatriate who recruited Brazilian Air
Force officers to smuggle cocaine to Europe on military jets.

Air Force pilots and high-ranking officers with customs clearance allegedly
stashed the narcotics in their  luggage on routine military flights to Spain
and France, police said.

Authorities said this week they believe Missouri-born John Michael White,
jailed twice in Brazil on drug-related charges, was the brains behind the
operation that lasted at least one year.

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