Scenes from the Drug War

Patrolling in international waters off the Colombian coast, the USS De Werth, a guided missile frigate, spotted a speedboat carrying what looked to be packets of cocaine. When the Navy ship turned to pursue, the suspected smugglers aboard the speedboat quickly threw 40 50-pound bags of cocaine overboard, then stripped naked and started scrubbing themselves with gasoline, apparently to remove any traces of cocaine from their bodies. They then rammed the De Werth, causing their boat to burst into flames. Only one of the smugglers was injured. The cocaine was recovered and turned over to Colombian authorities with the men. The drugs have a street value of about $32.5 million. (Reuters, AP) ...Proof that the drug war is nothing but a tragicomedy.