Hmm, maybe more like a “process is the lottery ticket” case then. More than meets the eye, it isn’t just a case of fuzz that is ignorant or even has a chip on the shoulder.
Sloppiness/incompetence is tolerated and ignored because there is a good possibility that the agency will receive revenue and/or valuable property with little risk of restitution being required, and in that case the taxpayers will take the biggest part of the hit.
Generally, seized property owners must properly initiate recovery legal proceeding within 10 days of the seizure, or forfeit it all. Most are never aware and all have only about seven days to actually get a lawyer, and get it done. The employment, pension and personal wealth of the coppers and their superiors is never at risk.