1.
SCU POLICE BREAK INTO BUILDING
0.03

2.
GV APARTMENTS
0.06

3.
SV POLICE ENTER
0.11

4.
SV INTERIOR AS POLICE SEARCH
0.16

5.
CU (COMMENTARY OVER) DRUG DEVICES
0.18

6.
SV BROKEN WINDOW (COMMENTARY ENDS)
0.22

7.
CU DRUG DEVICES
0.26

8.
CU BEDDING SEARCHED
0.30

9.
SV (COMMENTARY OVER) ACCUSED MEN BEING CHARGED
0.35

10.
CU ACCUSED (2 SHOTS)
0.45

11.
SV DITTO (COMMENTARY ENDS)
0.50

12.
SV POLICE SERGEANT SPEAKS TO REPORTER.
1.30


TRANSCRIPT: SEQ 12: SERGEANT STEFANIA: THIS REPRESENTS 28 KILOS OF HEROIN, PURE HEROIN PACKAGED IN ARGENTINA. EACH OF THESE PACKETS CONTAINS ONE KILO, WHICH IS TWO POINT TO POUNDS, AND IT'S TRIPLELY SEALED IN PLASTIC AND HERMETICALLY SEALED. IT'S THEN SMUGGLED INTO THE COUNTRY BY THE SUBJECT OF THIS ARREST AND HIS PARTNER. THIS WAS THE CULMINATION OF ABOUT TWO MONTHS' INVESTIGATION INTO THE ACTIVITIES OF THIS PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE AND THE SEVERAL TRIPS THAT THE PRINCIPAL SUBJECT MADE FROM SOUTH AMERICA TO THE UNITED STATES BROUGHT THE FOCUS OF THIS INVESTIGATION TO HIM.




Initials AJC/N-TELE/MR/BJ



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: NEW YORK CITY POLICE SEIZED ABOUT 60 POUNDS OF PURE HEROIN, SAID TO BE WORTH 30 MILLION DOLLARS (12.5 MILLION STERLING) IN A RAID ON A MANHATTAN HOTEL ROOM YESTERDAY (TUESDAY). IT WAS THE BIGGEST HAUL OF ITS KIND IN NEW YORK.

POLICE DETAINED TWO ARGENTINIAN BUSINESSMEN AND CHARGED THEM WITH POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS DRUGS. CONVICTION WOULD BRING A MANDATORY LIFE SENTENCE. THE MEN WERE NAMED AS RAOUL LEQUIZAMON, 52, AND ALBERTO DIAZ, 45, BOTH OF BUENOS AIRES.

THE HEROIN WAS FOUND IN PLASTIC BAGS INSIDE A LEATHER SUITCASE, UNDER A BED. THE POLICE SAID THERE WAS SUFFICIENT TO MAKE MORE THAN 600 POUNDS (270 KILOS) OF DILUTED HEROIN -- ENOUGH TO SUPPLY EVERY ADDICT IN THE NEW YORK AREA FOR ONE DAY.

POLICE HAD BEEN ON THE ALERT SINCE RECEIVING INFORMATION THAT A LARGE SHIPMENT OF HEROIN WAS EN ROUTE TO NEW YORK FROM SOUTH AMERICA. THEY BECAME SUSPICIOUS OF LEQUIZAMON AFTER HE HAD BEEN SEEN MEETING KNOWN NARCOTICS DISTRIBUTORS IN THE CITY LAST WEEK.

AS LEQUIZAMON AND DIAZ WERE BEING CHARGED, A POLICE SPOKESMAN, SERGEANT GABRIEL STEFANIA, MADE A STATEMENT TO REPORTERS.