Customs officials are investigating suspicions that the money may have come from payments by drug traffickers buying protection while Mr. Ruiz Massieu headed Mexico's anti-drug efforts.

William Harlow, an agency spokesman, said he could not discuss whether officials were investigating such suspicions.

Mr. Starr was assigned to investigate suspicions of the Clintons' involvement in the Whitewater scandal.

Democrats have also said they intend to investigate spending and suspicions of corruption, waste and abuse in Iraq contracting.

The German financial regulator investigated such suspicions last year, but said it did not have enough evidence to bring a legal case.

The investigation was led by federal agent Jeff Novitzky, who also investigated suspicions of steroid use by baseball players Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.

No one claimed responsibility for the blast, but the police investigated suspicions that the IRA was behind it.

Officials even declined to confirm that there was a case, or to address neighbors' statements that the department had been investigating suspicions of child abuse.

South Carolina officials have been investigating similar suspicions.

United States Customs officials are investigating suspicions that the Houston funds may have come from drug trafficking.