Drug smuggler added to `Most Wanted' list

WASHINGTON - The F.B.I. Thursday added to its national ``Most Wanted&#39;&#39; list a fugitive wanted on charges he has led a large drug-smuggling operation since 1991 based in the Caribbean. <br> <br> Forty-two-year-old James Spencer Springette is the latest addition to the F.B.I.&#39;s roster of most-wanted fugitives. Authorities said he is considered armed and dangerous and an escape risk. The FBI offered a reward up to $50,000 for information leading directly to his arrest. <br> <br> Springette was charged in federal court in Georgia in October 1998 with conspiracy to import cocaine hydrochloride and cocaine base, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. <br> <br> The F.B.I. said Springette is thought to be responsible for importing from Colombia large amounts of cocaine, which are reportedly airdropped into the Caribbean, divided into smaller amounts and shipped to Atlanta and other cities in the United States. <br> <br> The F.B.I. said Springette also is wanted for the attempted murder of a police officer in the British Virgin Islands. <br> <br> Springette was located and arrested in January 1999 in Medellin, Colombia. While awaiting extradition, he escaped from La Picota maximum security prison in March 2000 in Bogota and remains a fugitive. <br> <br> Springette is described as a black male, five-foot-eleven, 240 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He speaks both English and Spanish and is known to have facial hair. <br> <br> The F.B.I. said Springette has ties to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, other islands in the Caribbean, Venezuela, Panama, Colombia, France, and Britain. It said he also has ties to the southeastern United States, specifically in Augusta, Georgia; Atlanta; Norfolk, Virginia and Miami. <br> <br> The F.B.I. said Springette uses the following aliases: Elmo Brady, Elmo Brandy, Kyle Pierce, Elmo Spencer, Kent Worwell, Kent Worrel, Shawn Pickering, Brian Miller, Jimmy Springette, Jimi Springette, James Spencer, Spencer Springer, Efram Zoran Johnson, Everson Weberson, Spencer Springette, ``Jimmy,&#39;&#39; ``Juice,&#39;&#39; ``Seagal,&#39;&#39; ``Jimmy the Juice,&#39;&#39; and ``Uncle.&#39;&#39;