[CedarDave]

Rivers was coming from Dearborn, Mich. to LA make a music video. The money came from savings and relatives he said.

This really doesn't pass the smell test, but unless he and his family were totally naive, they would know both that carrying large amounts of cash cross country by train or bus is a method commonly used by drug dealers to launder the money, and never agree to a search without a warrant. And what sort of dealings did he previously have with banks that involved taking out large sums of money? The article doesn't say.

This type of civil assert forfeiture will be illegal in New Mexico beginning July 1. A bill passed the legislature in March that prohibits seizures before conviction of a crime, and money and funds from sale of property so seized is deposited into the state's general fund and not into the coffers of the local and state agencies who seized it. Unfortunately the law does not apply to the Feds who use it all the time in drug and other stings that may involve money laundering. See this thread for details and comments on the NM law:

BREAKING: New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez Abolishes Civil Asset Forfeiture

[Timber Rattler]

A DEA agent boarded the train at the Albuquerque Amtrak station and began asking various passengers ... where they were going and why.

That's none of your damned business, G-Man!

[piytar]

“Rivers complied.”

DON’T! EVER!

[Moonman62]

When Rivers replied that he was headed to LA to make a music video, the agent asked to search his bags. Rivers complied.

...

If you’re law abiding, don’t ever do that. If you’re a criminal I don’t care.

[CedarDave]

NM list PING!

I may not PING for all New Mexico articles. To see New Mexico articles by topic click here: New Mexico Topics

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[Veggie Todd]

...seized during his trip out West not by thieves but by Drug Enforcement Administration agents...

Potato, potahto.

[faithhopecharity]

Obama is transforming America into just another corrupt tinpot krapistan dictatorship

[faithhopecharity]

Obama is transforming America into just another corrupt tinpot krapistan dictatorship

[I want the USA back]

Creeping fascism. And it started before Obama.

[Pollster1]

Two old rules that neither the big government democrats nor the big government republicans care about:

Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.

Fourth Amendment: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

[ClearCase_guy]

“I see you have some money; hand it over.” — Government

[CedarDave]

Another DEA horror story:

DEA agents left college student in cell for five days, receive light punishments

[stephenjohnbanker]

” This really doesn’t pass the smell test”

Hard to believe anyone would carry this amount of cash, or be this dumb.

[CedarDave]

More info here:

ABQ Free Press: Did DEA Racially Profile Black Amtrak Passenger?

[beef]

I am sick of the WOD. Abolish the DEA. Legalize drugs. Let the druggies have thier fun. I do not care if they kill themselves. Just leave law abiding people alone.

[Nuc 1.1]

This is stone cold government theft. The person who did this should be arrested and his supervisors and enabling politicians should be prosecuted under RICO. I dispise thieves.

[taxcontrol]

.... the agent asked to search his bags. Rivers complied.

Well, there is your problem. Learn the following phrases:

1) I do not wish to be encountered
2) I do not answer questions from law enforcement or agents of the state without the presence of my attorney
3) I do not consent to any searches of my person or my property
4) Am I being detained or am I free to go
5) Since you have not clearly answered that I am detained, I am going to assume that I am NOT detained and will now be on my way.
6) Depriving me of my rights is a violation of title 42 section 1983 of the US code
7) I wish to assert my right to not speak to you or answer any of your questions.

And say nothing else.

[CARDINALRULES]

I was on a Greyhound bus in 2002 when this happened to someone in Tallahassee.

It was a white guy and fairly sure it was drug money in that case.

Got asked where I was from, where I was going and why.

[Lurker]

“A DEA agent boarded the train at the Albuquerque Amtrak station and began asking various passengers ... where they were going and why. When Rivers replied that he was headed to LA to make a music video, the agent asked to search his bags. Rivers complied.”

Big mistake. The correct response is “take a hike, flatfoot.”

Cops are not your friends. Especially not federal cops.

L