Cops & Criminals....it’s been hard to tell the difference for some time.
Cops can seize property under color of authority, backed by the power of the state. Criminals, in contrast, are prosecuted by the state.
Look at the Institute of Justice challenging cases where money was taken by the IRS because of a pattern of cash deposits, absolutely normal for some vending and grocery businesses to do.
The true evil in this is where people have had property seized without even charges filed, and in some cases, acquitted of the charges. That is why the cases are against $15,480 in cash versus the state - civil forfeiture cases are against the property taken, not you, so you’re not considered in double jeopardy if found not guilty of dealing drugs but they are trying to seize/forfeit the cash. And because civil forfeiture is not a criminal charge, you don’t have the right to a defense provided by the state. So when they take your money, you don’t have the right to a public defender, though you may not be able to afford representation without it.