HN Explorer

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maerF0x0
> A 2017 report by the Justice Department Office of Inspector General found that the DEA seized more than $4 billion in cash from people suspected of drug activity over the previous decade, but $3.2 billion of those seizures were never connected to any criminal charges.

Next up they can return the rest.

lakecresva
They probably kept most of the $3.2 billion. The burden of proof in civil asset forfeiture cases is on the property owner; in order to get their stuff back they have to prove that they qualify as an "innocent owner". Unless you have the time and money to hire lawyers and fight it out, you can kiss your stuff goodbye.

18 U.S.C. 983(d)

jb775
She should sue for the interest. Stock market is up 20%+ since it was seized.
smitty1110
This smells like a settlement to avoid setting a precedent against civil asset forfeiture. If there's $4 billion at stake, they're going to fight tooth and nail to avoid giving it back. That's a number larger than their annual budget [1].

[1] - https://www.dea.gov/staffing-and-budget

digsy
They seized $4bn over 10 years - not per year.
tru3_power
This is nuts. I wonder if they would do the same thing with jewelry or gold worth over $5k (number noted in the article).
ncmncm
Why not? They can. Police departments are fond of confiscating cars officers want.
ncmncm
Before clawing it back from the DEA, and taxpayers, it should be collected from the agents who confiscated the money. Then, when they have nothing left, get the rest from selling unneeded DEA assets like helicopters and weaponry.
hedora
They should have to pay punitive damages for this sort of behavior. The money should come out of the DEA budget, and not be replaced by congress.

Better yet, civil forfeiture should be illegal.