Now that assets seized by federal law enforcement agencies exceed burglaries, bipartisan bill aims to stop the abuse - AEI
This was the first thing that popped up when I googled it. There appeared to be plenty of other articles if you dont like this one for some reason. I also tried to google a counter argument and couldnt find one. Thats not to say it doesnt exist, only that I couldnt find it.
No, I just wanted to see the data, and the source.
And at first read, it looks solid. Now...
First off, what with me being an LEO, let me say that I have no stomach for or tolerance of misapplication of the law. And anytime an innocent suffers due to misapplication or overzealous or immoral application of the law, I'm firmly on the side of the citizen.
That being said, Asset Forfeiture / Civil Forfeiture laws are another example of good law that is being abused in too many cases. One of the lawyerly types here can hold a seminar on it if you'd like, but the basic idea is that when law enforcement busts a major (key word, "major") crime ring / drug dealer / financial fraud ring, group, or even individual, they have a means to go after everything that is connected to the crime(s), i.e. - any real property, homes, vehicles, boats, cash, stocks, or any assets that are a direct result or "fruit" of the crimes charged. In theory, it's a really good idea. Take everything they stole or converted to personal assets, and use it to pay for the prosecution, victim's compensation, etc, etc. Good idea.
And there are a zillion "rules" related to it. And as is the case with most laws, all it takes is an overzealous or poorly trained USA, DA, or anyone in that pipeline, including cops, to turn it into something bad instead of something good.
Unless the law has changed recently, that much cash heading to a known terrorist sponsor state should have, and did, raise eyebrows. He either did not have the proper documentation to show the origin of the cash (I know...his money...he shouldn't have to prove anything), or something else didn't match up, because CBP is usually...usually...by the book. So I don't know.
Not taking sides. If it were my money, I'd be mad as hell. Here again, we (maybe) have an example of the 11th Commandment Of Law Enforcement, which states "Lo, Verily...there be no situation that a good cop cannot make worseth."
All I got. Hope it helped.