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How a tiny, rural Alabama drug unit seizes millions from Mexican cartels
AL.com ^ | 11-4-17 | Connor Sheets

Posted on 11/04/2017 2:26:10 PM PDT by boycott

A lucrative battle against Mexican drug cartels is being fought on the sides of an interstate in three of Alabama's more rural counties.

Civil asset forfeiture has come under fire in recent years, as some law enforcement agencies across the country have deployed the tactic in ways that have been widely criticized as abusive.

But a small drug task force operating in Greene, Marengo and Sumter counties - collectively, Alabama's 17th Judicial Circuit - has leveraged the practice to take millions of dollars worth of cash, drugs and other property off the street in recent years, much of which they say they have seized from Mexican cartels like the Sinaloa and Los Zetas.

In the process, the unit has become one of the most productive law enforcement agencies in the state when it comes to asset forfeiture, according to federal data.

(Excerpt) Read more at al.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: assetforfeiture; cartels; civilassetforfeiture; crime; drugs; forfeiture; mexican; wod
Build the wall.
1 posted on 11/04/2017 2:26:10 PM PDT by boycott
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To: boycott
Expensive shoes ..........
2 posted on 11/04/2017 2:26:55 PM PDT by boycott
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To: boycott

Under Alabama law, assets seized during investigations and busts carried out by state and local law enforcement agencies do not have to be reported to the public.


Move along, citizen, there’s nothing to see here.


3 posted on 11/04/2017 2:40:06 PM PDT by sparklite2 (-)
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To: boycott
"I don't understand why people ... are so bashful about saying that the end result of me catching John Doe on the interstate with $320,000 is that it helps my office financially," he said.

That's the problem - you don't understand. Do you understand what the problem would be if the IRS got a cut of all additional tax dollars that came out of audits?

4 posted on 11/04/2017 2:46:23 PM PDT by NobleFree ("law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual")
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To: sparklite2

Under Alabama law, assets seized during investigations and busts carried out by state and local law enforcement agencies do not have to be reported to the public.


That is absolutely alarming.


5 posted on 11/04/2017 3:08:18 PM PDT by boycott
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To: boycott

Goldman Sachs/Wall Street/JPMC/CIA is grievously, grievously disappointed.
Grievously disappointed!!!


6 posted on 11/04/2017 3:19:12 PM PDT by Original Lurker
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To: boycott

Greene County is predominantly black.......and not a lot there except farmland. We used to have hunting land there.


7 posted on 11/04/2017 3:29:59 PM PDT by RushIsMyTeddyBear (Screw The NFL!!!!!! My family fought for the flag!)
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To: boycott

I’m not a fan of civil asset forfeiture, but if you have it, this is the way to use it.

This isn’t going after someone who likes to use cash, this appears to be bonafide criminals.

Hiding cash in hollowed out shoes is not something a businessman making a cash purchase is going to do.


8 posted on 11/04/2017 3:42:52 PM PDT by GreenLanternCorps (Hi! I'm the Dread Pirate Roberts! (TM) Ask about franchise opportunities in your area.)
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To: GreenLanternCorps

But they have to be accountable for the assets. It is not the police departments. It belongs to the people.


9 posted on 11/04/2017 4:20:32 PM PDT by boycott
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To: boycott

I absolutely agree. Civil Asset Forfeiture in the US is deeply flawed.

I merely note that this task force seems to be using if for what it is designed for,

Seizing assests and using them as evidence in a criminal trial is one thing.

Seizing assests and never charging anyone or even showing any connection to a crime, is something else.


10 posted on 11/04/2017 4:27:58 PM PDT by GreenLanternCorps (Hi! I'm the Dread Pirate Roberts! (TM) Ask about franchise opportunities in your area.)
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To: boycott

How do we know these aren’t bribes?

What better way to pay off corrupt drug cops?


11 posted on 11/04/2017 4:47:48 PM PDT by Ken H (Best election ever!)
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To: boycott

If they are clear thinking they will sell the dope as well and score big time.


12 posted on 11/04/2017 5:47:53 PM PDT by DaxtonBrown
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To: boycott

bump for later


13 posted on 11/04/2017 9:57:24 PM PDT by Sam_Damon
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