DRUG CZAR'S OFFICE UNDER INVESTIGATION

Charges involve $8 million in inflated advertising fees

WASHINGTON - Congressional investigators opened a criminal investigation of
the White House drug czar's office this spring after uncovering evidence
that contractors improperly inflated advertising costs for the $1 billion
national anti-drug campaign.

Robert Hast, head of the congressional General Accounting Office's criminal
fraud unit, told the House Government Reform criminal justice subcommittee
Wednesday that auditors uncovered evidence involving an estimated $8 million
in inflated charges involving government advertising contracts.

The charges involve inflated billing for work done on the anti-drug
contracts, payments of bonuses to executives and improper travel charges.