PUREST HEROIN TO DATE SEIZED IN CROATIA

( Editorial: --> 5569 ) ZAGREB, Jan 19 (Hina) - Zagreb police seized more than two kilograms of heroin from two Dutch citizens. An 18-year-old Dutchman was found with 1024.37 grams of heroin, the head of the Drugs Department, Zoran Babic, told reporters in Zagreb. The youth arrived in Zagreb on 11 January and stayed at a hotel, where on 14 January he received a mail package. After searching the room, the police found two encyclopaedias whose covers hid the drug, Babic said. The police found 997 grams of heroin on 15 January on two other Dutchmen, aged 20 and 26, who had arrived in Zagreb on 12 January. They stayed at the same hotel, where on 15 January they received the same mail package. Another search resulted in the discovery of heroin inside the books' covers. According to experts, the captured drugs were 88 per cent pure heroin. Babic said this was the first time such pure heroin had been seized in Croatia. The experts said this much heroin could be mixed with other components and produce 20 kilograms of drugs which, on the street, would be worth two million German marks. An investigation showed that the heroin had been smuggled from the far east and was intended for the west European market. The three arrested men were charged and are currently in detention. (hina) ha jn 191928 MET jan 98