Going to the linked news article, I see it appears to be about alleged use of the property to facilitate drug deals. Maybe the owners were believed to have winked too much — what hotel DOESN’T see drug crime sooner or later? Maybe they forgot to pay off the right people or make the right friends in the town.
B) It's good form to get to the nut cut of the issue up front, to put it bluntly.
Put the issue up there. First.
So, it's a case of Federal Government taking property. (for whatever cause).
First, check the Constitution. Does it allow the Federal Government to take property, outside of 10 square miles for the seat of government and required military facilities?
Didn't think so.
Next case.
/johnny
Did you read the whole article? It seems that the couple have been helping the police enforce the law by using security cameras and a few other items to keep their motel as drug free as possible. The arrests that were made were a result of the couple calling the police. This is nothing more than cops seizing property in order to get the money simply because they can, and it is not the first time it has happened nor will it be the last until property seizure laws are taken off the books.