
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 21, 1990                   TAG: 9006210390
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/8   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

NARCOTICS VIOLENCE ON RISE

Drug-related bombings nearly doubled last year over 1988, illustrating the increased violence among drug traffickers, a government official says.

"I don't think there's any question but the street level of activity in narcotics is becoming increasingly violent," said Jack Killorin, spokesman for the Treasury Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Last year's drug-related bombings totaled 64, almost double the previous year's 33 bombings, according to a draft of the ATF explosives incidence report of 1989. In 1987, there were only five such attacks.

In the three years, 18 people have been killed in drug-related bombings, 13 of them last year. Fifty-six people have been injured in such attacks, 17 of them last year.

Killorin acknowledged Wednesday that the main form of drug-related violence remains firearms. But he said, "Nobody at ATF likes the trend of almost exponential growth in the use of explosive devices as a weapon in the drug wars.

"These are largely bombings related to turf wars or disagreements within certain factions involved in narcotics trafficking," he said.

In addition to last year's 64 drug-related bombings, there were 17 attempted bombings, the report said.

by CNB