Pubdate: Thu, 30 Jul 2015 Source: Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL) Copyright: 2015 Sun-Sentinel Company Contact: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-letters-to-the-editor-htmlstory.html Website: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/159 Author: Lisa Rein, The Washington Post WATCHDOG SAYS DRUG INFORMANTS LACK LIMITS DEA Hit for Poorly Vetting Traffickers on Its Payroll WASHINGTON - Drug traffickers who cooperate with federal investigators are poorly vetted, and the Drug Enforcement Administration did not properly monitor at least 240 informants some of whom crossed the line into illegal activity and were under criminal investigation by other authorities. That's the conclusion of a new report from the Justice Department watchdog, who found another weakness in the DEA's oversight of its informants: Some of them get workers' compensation benefits from the government despite questionable qualifications. Investigators from Inspector General Michael Horowitz's office found that the DEA paid more than $1 million in these benefits in 2014 to 17 informants or their dependents without proper government controls, according to a report made public last week. The DEA used "over 240 confidential sources without rigorous review," investigators found in the report. "This created a significant risk that improper relationships between government handlers and sources could be allowed to continue over many years, potentially resulting in the divulging of sensitive information or other adverse consequences for the government." The criticism comes as the DEA has been under fire in recent months from Congress and Justice officials. Administrator Michele Leonhart was forced to step down in May following revelations about "sex parties" involving prostitutes overseas and other misconduct among agents. The DEA, created by the Nixon administration in 1973 during the war on drugs, enforces the country's drug laws and bring violators to justice. A basic way agents do their jobs is by recruiting informants. The agency is supposed to monitor when informants cross the line into illegal activity and keep tight tabs on them, according to guidelines set by the attorney general. But investigators found that the agency hasn't always followed those guidelines, instead setting up its own standards. So drug kingpins, as well as lawyers, doctors or journalists haven't been vetted as they should be, even though they're considered highrisk informants. The DEA's review of potential informants' files has long been a rubber stamp, investigators found. In a video released with the report, Horowitz said investigators uncovered evidence that he said "raises significant concerns for one of the DEA's more significant and sensitive programs." A committee charged with reviewing informants weighed each source for an average of a minute each from 2003 to 2012, Horowitz said. "And that's when there was any review at all." Justice Department spokesman Patrick Rodenbush said officials ordered a comprehensive review of the DEA's confidential source policies late last year. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom