News @lemmy.world lousyd @lemmy.sdf.org 3mo ago

Justice Department orders DEA to halt airport searches because of 'significant issues' with cash seizures

reason.com Justice Department orders DEA to halt airport searches because of 'significant issues' with cash seizures

The Justice Department has ordered the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to suspend most searches of passengers at airports and other mass transit

"OIG Investigators found that the DEA paid one airline employee tens of thousands of dollars over the past several years in proceeds from cash seized as a result of their tips. However, the vast majority of those airport seizures aren't accompanied by criminal prosecutions. This has led to years of complaints from civil liberties groups that the DEA is abusing civil asset forfeiture—a practice that allows police to seize cash and other property suspected of being connected to criminal activity such as drug trafficking, even if the owner is never arrested or charged with a crime."

43 comments

Ah, I almost forgot about civil asset forfeiture... If the incoming regime ends up having any interest in appearances, and looking like they care about law and order, then keep an eye out for an increase in civil asset forfeiture cases.
- If we could put an end to civil forfeiture, I'd be so happy...
- Carry Monero. Cant seize what they cant find
  
  Let me just pay my rent real quick with my monopoly money
  
  Maybe if/when crypto prices actually stabilize.
  
  Can’t steal it when it has no value.
  
  I lost it in a tragic boat fire... I swear.
What a roundabout way to say they've just been stealing people's money with no oversight or consequences.
Here's how I see this grift working:

DEA agent gets info about cash mule coming across, but can't get reward.

Airport employee in on con gets a phone call from agent

Report "tip" and gets reward

Agent gets commission

Rinse, repeat

Follow the reward money and see who needs a corruption trial.
- You think that's somehow more likely than:
  
  Fucker with full access to your bags while you're nowhere near them looks through your shit
  
  When they find a bag full of money, said fucker gets to legally take a percentage by just tipping off the DEA, instead of just robbing you and risking being caught
  
  ?
On the one hand, that's really funny. On the other hand the libertarian assholes at Reason can get fucked.
Civil Asset Forfeiture is such a scummy concept.
- "You aren't suspected of a crime, your money is. We need to take it into custody."
  
  And then they get a new squad car two weeks later.
Don’t worry. Under Trump the DEA will soon cease to exist, solving this problem.
- What? The DEA is needlessly cruel, while also corrupt and ineffective. The new administration might increase its funding.
  
  The cruelty is the point.
  
  Right? Trump is all about authoritarian BS and not about rights. If anything he’d expand the DEA.
- You're suggesting that the Trump administration is going to defund the police...?
- Really? That'd be great
- Good.

43 comments