Pubdate: Wed, 16 June 1999 Source: Washington Post (DC) Copyright: 1999 The Washington Post Company Address: 1150 15th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20071 Feedback: http://washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/edit/letters/letterform.htm 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D