Huge N.Y. Cocaine Ring Broken

NEW YORK — Federal agents and state police smashed a $7-million-a-month cocaine ring today, arresting 17 Colombians in early morning raids in New York City and Long Island, officials said.

At least four kilos of cocaine and an undetermined amount of cash were seized in the raids, which capped a seven-month investigation. Officials said the ring was capable of bringing 500 pounds of cocaine a month into the New York area and laundered as much as $7 million a month of the drug money in the United States before sending the cash back to Colombia.