Tribune Journalist Was Abducted There Peru's president has promised to try to reopen the investigation into the 1989 slaying of Tampa Tribune reporter Todd C. Smith. Alan Garcia's pledge followed a meeting with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson on Thursday and came without reporters' prompting at a subsequent news conference in Lima, Peru's capital. "We'll work with the justice system to bring to light the truth and so at least his parents will have the consolation of knowing the truth," Garcia told reporters. [continues 358 words]
TAMPA -- One of the nation's largest drug investigations netted 14 suspects in two boat seizures off Central America, the U.S. attorney's office announced Monday. The arrests, linked with Operation Panama Express, include 10 people on a Guatemalan fishing boat Oct. 25 and four Colombians on a speedboat Oct. 29. Suspects on the fishing boat threw more than 3 tons of cocaine overboard as a Coast Guard vessel approached, a news release said. The speedboat was set on fire, but 2 tons of cocaine was seized. Indictments unsealed Monday charge the group with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Operation Panama Express targets the Cali drug cartel and has seized more than 140 tons of cocaine in less than three years. [end]
Expert: Xanax Use Rising Since Sept. 11 Cheap, readily accessible and effective at taking the edge off, the prescription drug Xanax offers increasing allure to young people, addiction experts say. "It just kind of chills you out," said Sonya Bufe, adolescent treatment coordinator for Drug Abuse Comprehensive Coordinating Office, a nonprofit drug treatment center in Tampa. Xanax ranks second behind Vicadin among the attempted prescription drug frauds investigated by Detective Bernie McKenna of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. It comes in pills that vary in color according to dosage and can be used for relaxation, to counter the effect of other drugs - especially stimulants - or as a sleep aid, he said. [continues 247 words]
