European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 6, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday november 6. 1987 the stars and stripes Page 5 biggest drug transport ring broken Miami Ai i Federal Igona have smashed the nation s largest most sophisticated drug transport ring which used spot Ter planes infrared beacons and Decoy plane passengers called your girls to avoid detection authorities said wednesday. The Miami based ring was contracted by the Medellin Cartel the Colombia based drug smuggling organization responsible for 80 percent of . Co Caine imports to haul cocaine from Colombia to the i nit cd states investigators said. This was the largest transportation network used by the Medellin Cartel Between 1982 and 1986," Munday said Bill Perry act ing special agent in charge of the Miami Fri office. Essentially this takes the whole organization right out of Busi  during that period the ring hauled 20,000 pounds of cocaine in 19 ship ments in addition to four relatively Small marijuana shipments. Investigators calculate the ring May actually have smuggled in up to 60,000 pounds of cocaine Over the four year period and members were paid about $90 million by the Cartel said . Customs spokesman Michael Shechan. Loads of cocaine flown out of colom Bia were dropped in bahamian Waters for later pickup by boats which then smuggled hem to the Florida coat according in the Federal indictment. The smugglers were so sophisticated the forced anti drug  to permanently change their . Said Patrick u Firmien. Head of the . Cus Toms service Here. Investigators said the ring contracted with the Medellin Cartel to become its major . Transportation link but did not involve itself in buying or Selling drugs. The ring contracted to build $20,000 radio infrared beacons which gave Rise to the Case name operation Beacon to be attached to cocaine loads dumped at sea. The loads would float just below the surface to avoid detection by others. They owned aircraft they owned ves Sels they had elaborate covers of flying h Omen aboard their aircraft to make it look like they were charter flights or on Vaca Tion he said. The women were referred Toby the Ringas cover girls he said. The ring s spotter planes followed their own aircraft and drug boats warning of approaching vessels and watching Over ship ments dumped in the Ocean. Agents confiscated 12 aircraft. 21 motor vehicles. 28 boats and 17 pieces of property used by the ring with a total value of $5 million. The ring s electronic sophistication was one of its assets but it turned out to be its fatal flaw. O Brien said a Man the ring contacted to build the beacons had also worked with customs and gave authorities information on the ring s activities. The indictment named 30 people including the alleged leaders Michael Munday and James Coly. Munday is one of two indicted who arc fugitives and Coly is among seven people already in custody on other charges. A photo customs agent Patrick o Brien explains Beacon used to locale smuggled drugs As Fri agent Bill Perry left and . Attorney Leon Kelner look on. Study says Over 25% of Academy grads quit new Haven. Conn. A More than one Quarter of the officers who graduate from he nation s military academics resign from the armed forces the first Chance they get. According to a report published wednesday. Female officers resign at a higher rate than men. According to figures in a study conducted by the new Haven Register. Commissioned officers a. Gated to serve at least five years in the Mili tary after which they can resign. The most recent resignation rates available arc for the 1980 and 1981 graduating classes. From those classes combined male officers resigned after serving five years at a rate of 25 percent and female officers at a rate of 28 per cent. A total of 1,532 officers resigned. One reason More women resign is because there arc a lot of social pres sures on women said maj. Greg Rixon an army spokesman at the Pentagon. The biological clock docs  a women s advocacy organization however said women leave the military because of the outdated combat exclusion policy of the army. Navy and air Force that blocks women from serv ing in positions considered critical for promotion. The armed services train Cadet offi cers at the coast guard Academy in new London. Conn. The military Academy at West Point . The air Force Academy at Colorado Springs Colo. And the naval Academy at an Napolis my. The naval Academy had the most resignations from both classes the Fig ures show. From the 1980 class 45 per cent of the women resigned and from the 1981 class 50 percent of the men resigned the paper said. A Navy spokesman at the Pentagon disputed the figures. It. Jane Muscus said that of 739 males who graduated from the Academy in 1980, 603 stayed beyond their five year obligation. Of 47 female graduates 33 stayed. In 1981. 685 of 803 male graduates stayed beyond the five year requirement of 51 female graduates 37 stayed Muscus said. West Point officers of both sexes re sign for a variety of reasons including Normal maturation Rixon said. Women comprise 10 percent of the army and about 12 percent of its officer corps. Sands of time in the stars and stripes 40 years ago foe a. Nov. 6, 1947 the United nations voted to Send a . Commission to Korea to super Vise the Spring general election the creation of an Independent government and the withdrawal of russian and american troops from Korea within 90 Days of its Independence. 30 years ago today. Nov. 6, 1957 a missile Engineer reported seeing a Brilliant coloured egg shaped object that stalled autos in new Mexico at about the same time the air Force began investigating similar reports in Texas. 20 years ago today. Nov. 6, 1967 in a bloodless coup d eat the army seized Power in Yemen and overthrew left leaning president Abdullah Shallal. 10 years ago today. Nov. 6, 1977 the United states offered to seek dismissal of the indictment against South korean businessman ton Sun Park in Exchange for his help in presenting evidence in the Justice department s probe of korean influence peddling. . Regrets1 Fisherman s death Washington a the state department said it is regrettable that an Indian Fisherman aboard a United Arab emirates boat was killed when a . Navy frigate opened fire on three Arab fishing boats in the persian Gulf. The statement read by spokesman Charles e. Redman at the daily news briefing wednesday did not say whether the United states was at fault. The United states also expressed its regret to the United Arab emirates the statement added. The Fisherman Bikwan Kan acc 36, of Gujarat India died after a machine gun Bullet hit him in the head sunday evening As the boats were returning to the Gulf Sheik Dom from a Day s fishing expedition. The Pentagon said in a statement on monday that the guided missile frigate Carr had fired warning shots at one of three suspected iranian speedboats that had appeared to make a High Speed hostile run at the . Tanker Patriot which the Carr was escorting. Navy Dolphin Dies in persian Gulf Washington a a Navy Dolphin sent to the persian Gulf to assist . Forces there died last week apparently of natural causes the Navy said wednesday. The Dolphin one of six that arrived in the Gulf on oct. 13, died on oct. 29, the service said. The exact cause of death will not be known until a Complete autopsy is conducted it added. The Navy declined further comment but a Penta gon official who asked not to be identified said it appeared the Dolphin might have died of a bacterial infection. There was no hostile action involved the source said. It was apparently quite  the five remaining dolphins in the Gulf All appear to be in Good health the official added. The Pentagon said oct. 22 it had sent the mammals at the request of the . Commander in the Gulf to provide an underwater surveillance and detection Ca  the dolphins arc trained to Hunt for underwater mines and to search for enemy frogman. Currently they Are being used primarily As underwater sentries to help protect several Large barges that the Navy is using to support its mine sweeping and special operation forces in the Gulf one source said. Since 1962, the Navy has had a Marine research and training program involving porpoises dolphins seals and whales. The mammals Are trained at bases in Cali fornia Hawaii and Florida. Two of the Navy uni s involved Are explosive ordnance disposal Mobile units the service says