DEA WILL ASSIST IN FAKE DRUG INVESTIGATION

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will assist in the
investigation that began after prosecutors notified Dallas police that
tests on a number of their drug busts involving a paid informant
showed little or no controlled substance in the seized evidence.

The lead investigator will arrive Wednesday, Police Chief Terrell
Bolton said in an afternoon news conference. He also announced that
two officers have been placed on administrative leave.

More than $11,000 intended for confidential informants to make drug
buys remains unaccounted for by police.

In at least four arrests involving fake drugs under scrutiny by police
and prosecutors, only $300 in marked bills was found on two suspects.

According to police reports, officers gave cash advances to
confidential informants for sample buys to lay the groundwork for
arrests on more serious charges. The four arrests were made by the
same two undercover narcotics officers and their informants.

In all four cases, the suspects were watched by police or accompanied
by a police informant while illegal transactions took place, according
to police reports.

"But I can tell you a thorough investigation in all aspects of these
cases is continuing," said police spokeswoman Janice Houston.

More than a dozen narcotics arrests in Dallas last year have drawn
criticism for a pattern of undercover deals made on credit and seized
evidence that tests later found to contain little or no illegal drugs.

The arrests have resulted in a public integrity investigation begun by
Dallas police on Nov. 30.

Prosecution of at least 24 cases was suspended last week because the
seized evidence contained only gypsum or minute traces of illegal substances.