World

In Colombia, where 157 judges were victims of drug-related murders between 1982 and 1988, it is a brave justice who stands up to the cartels. But last week, in a surprising move, the country's Supreme Court voted to uphold most of President Virgilio Barco Varga's emergency measures against narcotics traffickers. Most important, the court approved the President's power to extradite criminals to the U.S.

Since Barco began his crusade against the coke barons eight weeks ago, one drug lieutenant has been extradited and the U.S. Justice Department has begun to pursue four others. "This is a great victory for the President and a tremendous blow to the narcos," declared National Police chief General Miguel Gomez Padilla.

Gomez Padilla had another reason for optimism. He disclosed last week that more than 4,000 police officers had left or been dismissed from the 70,000- member force this year, many because of connections with drug traffickers.