1.   Samples were flown to the U.S. Customs Service Laboratory in San Francisco, the routine procedure in cases of suspected smuggling in the Persian Gulf.

2.   Metodiev, who was being investigated for suspected smuggling, confessed to buying the discs from a private firm in Sofia, Vasilev said.

3.   Reductions in recorded catches might also be due to suspected widespread smuggling of Zimbabwean catches to Zambia, Mtsambiwa said.

4.   U.S. authorities expected to make more arrests in connection with the suspected smuggling ring, he said.

5.   Japanese authorities were trying Tuesday to uncover international links in the suspected smuggling of drugs from North Korea to Japan by a Chinese ship.

6.   The case was believed to be part of an ongoing international probe into the suspected smuggling of illegal immigrants from China to the United States, the source said.