Cable briefs

Press, 14 October 1986, Page 6

Cable briefs

Cocaine seized

British customs officers say they have smashed an international drugs smuggling ring by seizing 15kg of cocaine hidden in champagne bottles and arresting six people at London’s Heathrow Airport yesterday. The powdered cocaine, with a street value of £3 million ($8.64 million), was seized when the officers searched the luggage of four women and two men who arrived on a flight from Paris. Customs officers said they had been trailing the gang for six months. — London. Alligator bites An 8-year-old boy suffered a cut leg in an attack by an alligator at a Walt Disney World campground. The boy was squatting on the edge of a small pond when the alligator came out of the water and bit him on the left leg. The 2.2 metre female reptile was later shot by Florida Game Commission staff. — Orlando. Aid negated The international relief organisation, Oxfam, has called on Western Governments to ease the burden of famine-stricken countries with large debts. The British-based group said that for every £1 ($2.88) given for famine relief in 1985, Western banks took back £2 ($5.76) in debt repayments. “No matter how successful are the projects supported by organisations such as Oxfam, the over-all battle against poverty is being lost,” said Mr John Clark, author of a draft report on the problem. — Oxford.

Dissident taken away

A Soviet dissident, Nina Kovalenko, has been taken to a psychiatric clinic for demonstrating in support of the United States journalist and alleged spy, Nicholas Daniloff, says a fellow dissident. The Moscow artist was said to have been taken to the clinic after staging the solo street demonstration on September 25. — Moscow. ’ Intelligence awry The United States Administration gave the British Government confidential intelligence information about alleged Libyan terrorist plans that was "wildly inaccurate,” said the “Sunday Telegraph” newspaper, quoting diplomatic and Government sources. A British official who the newspaper said knew of the documents described them as “a deliberate effort to deceive.” — London. Expensive smell What are claimed to be the most expensive bottles of perfume in the world have gone on sale in Australia. Happy Diamonds will sell for sAustlloo ($1386) an ounce bottle, but fragrance alone does not account for the skyhigh price; each bottle will contain a 0.5 carat diamond. The Swiss firm which makes the perfume and jewellery, Chopard, says the gem can be added to those already in their collection of watches and accessories. — Sydney.