DATE: Saturday, October 18, 1997            TAG: 9710180341

SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A10  EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: FROM WIRE REPORTS 

DATELINE: WASHINGTON                        LENGTH:   51 lines

MARINES' ARRESTS SPARK WIDER ARMS INVESTIGATION

The arrests of six Marines and eight civilians Thursday for trafficking in illegal military weapons and plastic explosives have triggered a wider investigation by the FBI and Defense Department into the extent of the black market in military wares.

``Only the undercover aspect of this investigation has been completed,'' a senior federal law enforcement official said Thursday. ``A major overt investigation is now under way, which could lead to the arrests of other individuals and additional charges against those who are in custody.''

Federal authorities said they believe the Marines and civilians arrested this week were motivated by profit and their interest in collecting certain types of weapons.

FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Service officials said they did not believe the theft or sale of the military wares has involved militia or political extremist groups.

The FBI said agents are tracing large quantities of plastic explosives, machine guns and grenades, as well as grenade launchers, anti-personnel mines, and other equipment purchased by undercover agents since Jan. 15, as part of ``Operation Longfuse,'' an investigation that focused on gun shows, military bases and dealers operating in the southeastern United States.

According to an FBI affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in North Carolina, two undercover agents and a Marine cooperating with investigators purchased stolen military ordnance from 22 individuals.

Investigators bought at least 150 pounds of plastic explosives, hundreds of hand grenades and rocket-propelled grenades, grenade launchers, shoulder-launched rockets, more than 50 machine guns, a handful of anti-personnel land mines, detonation cords and other equipment.

Most of the illicit weapons and materials were sold at gun shows and out of homes and storage facilities in five states - North Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, Massachusetts and Kentucky.

Defense Secretary William Cohen ordered a review of security procedures throughout the armed services after the arrests.

``It is imperative that we be confident that military arms and munitions are tightly controlled and safeguarded,'' Cohen said Thursday.

The Marines have not been formally charged by the military but face a number of charges, according to a Camp Lejeune spokesman. Five of the six Marines are being held at the base brig.

The eight civilians were charged with a variety of federal crimes in connection with illegally manufacturing and selling military explosives and hardware, the FBI said. KEYWORDS: EXPLOSIVE WEAPONS TRAFFICKING

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