EX-AGENT'S PAST CATCHES PUBLIC AGENCIES OFF GUARD

As a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent, Rene De La Cova was a hero
who slapped handcuffs on Manuel Noriega, helping turn the Panamanian
strongman into a convict.

A few years later, De La Cova himself became a criminal, serving prison
time for stealing $760,000 in laundered drug money while a DEA agent in the
Miami area.

Now he has surfaced in San Diego County -- in the drug-testing business.

De La Cova is a representative of Drug Testing Network, which collects
specimens for alcohol and drug tests on behalf of dozens of clients,
including San Diego Transit and the cities of Carlsbad and Oceanside.

The Vista-based company, owned by De La Cova's wife, Theresa, touts an
inexpensive mobile service that sends samples to independent laboratories
for testing.

Theresa De la Cova also is a former DEA agent. She was forced to resign in
1994 when her husband pleaded guilty to stealing the funds while working on
an undercover drug sting, according to court records in Miami.

Rene De La Cova, a supervisor of the DEA's Fort Lauderdale, Fla., office at
the time of his arrest, remains on probation after being sentenced to a
two-year federal prison term. The 48-year-old former agent has reimbursed
the government since the theft and served a partial term, records show. His
wife was not accused of wrongdoing.

Legally, there is nothing improper with De La Cova working in the
drug-testing field -- and, by all accounts, he's doing a good job. But The
San Diego Union-Tribune's inquiries about his record have stunned
representatives of local public agencies, raising questions about the
credibility and thoroughness of their reference checks of drug-testing
collection businesses.

It also points to the lack of regulations in this part of a
multibillion-dollar industry that generally is heavily scrutinized across
the nation.

"To tell you the truth, it shocks me," said Steve St. Pierre, manager of
human resources for San Diego Transit, which recently hired Drug Testing
Network, attracted by its comparatively low costs and mobile services.

The transit agency has budgeted about $20,000 annually for the services
under an arrangement St. Pierre said he would review. The cities of
Carlsbad and Oceanside spend less than $2,000 annually in contracts with
Drug Testing Network.

"Our program has never run smoother," St. Pierre said. "They are right on
the ball.

"When we were going through the process, I checked a number of references.
They had a list of clients. I called several of them to ask their
experience, and I got nothing but good remarks."

Arlene Berman, employee services manager for Oceanside, said she was
surprised by Rene De La Cova's past.

"They are very accommodating, and willing to go out of their way, very easy
to work with," Berman said of Drug Testing Network.

A federal court order filed in Miami states: "As directed by his probation
officer, De La Cova shall notify third parties of risks that may be
occasioned by defendant's criminal record."

Theresa De La Cova said she was assured by probation officials that
disclosure was not a requirement. Probation officials declined to comment
for this story.

St. Pierre and other officials in San Diego County said they were unaware
of the criminal conviction until informed by the Union-Tribune this week.

A consultant familiar with the drug-testing field expressed concern that
the felony conviction may have an impact on potential litigation.

"I don't mind that he is working, but he shouldn't be in the drug-testing
business; there are no checks and balances," the consultant said.

The federal Department of Transportation, which has initiated stringent
drug-testing procedures for "safety sensitive" employees, has no licensing
requirement for collection agencies, said Donald Carr, a safety specialist
for the agency.

Theresa De La Cova said her company has abided by the law.

"Would you bring up your past?" she asked.

"He made a mistake and paid for it going to hell and back," she said, her
voice breaking, in a recent telephone conversation. "It has nothing to do
with the business. We have a wonderful company.

"This is my business, my company. There are no regulations that prevent
him from being here."

As an employee, Rene De La Cova handles various duties for Drug Testing
Network, from marketing to watching over the collection process, to talking
at local schools about running a small business, said officials of some
agencies that have contracts with the company.

In 1989, while a station chief in Panama, Rene De La Cova made headlines
around the world when he placed the handcuffs on then-Panamian leader
Noriega, who was arrested on drug charges. Noriega was convicted in 1992
and is serving a 40-year prison term near Miami.

In 1993, Rene De La Cova's own fortunes reversed.

It started smoothly -- and legally. Posing as a money launderer, he
negotiated with drug traffickers, seizing $3 million for the federal
government. The DEA thought the case was wrapped up.

But then came another call.

According to court records:

(Picture) The drug trafficker told De La Cova that there was an additional
$760,000 to be picked up. De La Cova did not tell his superiors about the
extra cash.

(Picture) De La Cova picked up the money in Houston, stuffed the cash in
his luggage and flew back to Miami.

(Picture) Over the next few weeks, the money was placed in safety deposit
boxes or in bank and stock brokerage accounts around the country. De La
Cova arranged trips, and the money was used to buy airline tickets, meals
and jewelry.

Within 45 days, De La Cova pleaded guilty. Eventually he reimbursed the
government.

"I have no excuses for what I did," De La Cova told a judge. "I've had
pretty much an impeccable career. "

While her husband was in prison, Theresa De La Cova struggled to begin a
new business and moved full-time to San Diego's North County. She founded
a private investigation business, Kristy Investigative Services, of which
Drug Testing Network was a part.

Besides the drug-collection work, Drug Testing Network offers
drug-education programs.

"Join the growing number of businesses that are saying NO to drugs in the
workplace," says its brochure that helped win a contract with the city of
Carlsbad.