Pubdate: Tue, 30 May 2000 Source: Associated Press Copyright: 2000 Associated Press U.S. OFFICER DETAINED IN S. KOREA SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- A U.S. Air Force captain has been arrested by the U.S. military for allegedly smuggling 5 1/2 pounds of cocaine, South Korean prosecutors said Tuesday. The officer had 4 pounds at his off-post home in Seoul, said Lim Yang-yoon, an official at the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office. The U.S. military confirmed the apprehension, but declined to reveal further details. ``He is in custody, but no charges have yet been filed,'' said Stephen Oertwig, a spokesman for the U.S. military command. He declined to give the officer's name and hometown. Oertwig said that the U.S. military believes the cocaine is valued at no more than $100,000. The officer's alleged involvement in drug trafficking was discovered while South Korean officials were investigating local drug peddlers. South Korea has seen a steep rise in narcotics-related crimes in recent years. Last year, 10,589 people were charged with drug trafficking, a 26.8-percent increase from 8,350 cases in 1998. ``This figure is only for those arrested. The total number of drug-users is estimated at around 200,000,'' said Lee Kyong, an official at the National Prosecutors' Office. About 13 pounds of cocaine and other drugs were seized in South Korea during the first quarter of this year, up 56 percent from the same period last year, he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Allan Wilkinson