Pubdate: 7/23/97
CARACAS (Reuter)  Venezuela and the United States signed an agreement
Wednesday allowing authorities from either country to board boats carrying
the Venezuelan or U.S. flag on the high seas if they were suspected of
carrying drugs. 

The agreement was signed by U.S. ambassador to Venezuela John Maisto and the
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Burelli. 

Maisto said the agreement broke ``a new boundary in U.S.Venezuelan
cooperation in the fight against drugs.'' 

On Tuesday, Venezuelan authorities seized a Panamanianregistered tanker with
more than five tons of cocaine in a joint operation with the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Agency. 

19:25 072397