UK Drug Documentary Found Fake

LONDON (AP) -- A prize-winning British documentary broadcast on the CBS program ``60 Minutes'' about

drug running from Colombia was a fake, an investigation has concluded.

Makers of ``The Connection'' paid actors to portray drug dealers, faked locations, and falsely claimed there

was a new heroin route from Colombia to Britain, the investigation found, London's Guardian newspaper

reported Saturday.

The documentary, made by a British production company, Carlton Communications, for the British network

Independent Television, was investigated after The Guardian challenged its authenticity in a series of articles

in May.

The newpaper reports inspired Carlton to form an independent panel of lawyers and TV producers to

investigate the program. The panel's report was released over the weekend.

The Guardian said Carlton Communications broadcasting director Nigel Walmsley is returning eight national

and international awards won by the documentary.

``We are refunding overseas broadcasters who bought 'The Connection,''' The Guardian quoted Walmsley as

saying.

Steve Kroft anchored the ``60 Minutes'' report that aired parts of the documentary in June 1997.

``60 Minutes'' spokesman Kevin Tedesco said the program had made viewers aware of the initial allegations

in May. He said the program was analyzing the latest claims, and would likely report on them during the

show on Dec. 13.

The film showed a courier, or a drug ``mule,'' purportedly carrying millions of dollars worth of heroin to

London for Colombia's Cali drug cartel.

The inquiry panel said there was no evidence the person was carrying heroin ``rather than sugar, flour or

mints.''

A man interviewed with his face covered and described as the financial controller of the Cali Cartel was an

actor -- as were the ``mule'' and another key character, the panel said.

One interview that was purported to take place in a jungle hideout with a drug baron actually took place in

the hotel room of producer Marc de Beaufort, the panel said.

The panel concluded that only de Beaufort, a cameraman and a researcher could have known of most of the

fakery.

But the panel said it could not determine whether de Beaufort knew of all the false elements in the program.

De Beaufort issued a statement in which he called the conclusion about the actors ``untenable,'' and blamed

his researcher, Adriana Quintana, for the ``alleged fakery.''

``The inquiry is obviously entitled to its own conclusions, yet I find it hard to believe the characters in the

film were acting their parts,'' he said.

(PROFILE (CO:Carlton Communications PLC; TS:CCTVY; IG:MED;) )

AP-NY-12-06-98 2226EST