Chargers safety arrested on drug charges

Wednesday, September 27th 2006, 2:44 pm

By: News On 6

SAN DIEGO (AP) _ San Diego Chargers safety Terrence Kiel admitted to shipping two parcels of prescription cough syrup to Texas, Drug Enforcement Agency officials said Wednesday, a day after the player was arrested at the National Football League team's headquarters.

While Kiel did not tell the DEA his motive, the agency in Texas has found widespread abuse of codeine-based cough syrup mixed with soft drinks or drugs and referred to as ``lean,'' said John S. Fernandes, the special agent in charge of the San Diego office. A pint bottle of ``lean'' can cost between $200 and $325 (euro160-euro250) on the street, he said.

Kiel was arrested on two counts of transporting a controlled substance and three counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance.

The DEA is investigating where Kiel got the cough syrup, who else may be involved and the intent.