Pubdate: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 Source: Northwest Arkansas Times (AR) Copyright: 2000 Community Publishers Inc. Contact: 212 N. East Ave., P.O. Box 1607 Fayetteville, AR 72702 Website: http://www.nwarktimes.com Author: Quincy R. Jackson PROPERTY FORFEITURE IN DRUG CASES MAKES PROBLEM LUCRATIVE FOR POLICE To the editor: The paradox; thus the quandary. Forfeiture of property in drug-related criminal operations sounds eminently fair in cases like the Bella Vista drug bust. The Benton County Sheriff’s Department, investigating a Bella Vista residence after Bank of Bentonville officials’ reports of large cash deposits and bills smelling of ether, found what they call the most sophisticated marijuana growing operation they’ve ever seen. They also found and confiscated a boat, motorcycles, ATVs, guns and other of the trappings of illicit wealth. Sheriff Andy Lee said, "It’s not every day we walk into a case that has the potential for a couple hundred thousand dollars in forfeitures." Big money in anybody’s definition. This (alleged) dope grower was living the high life off the proceeds of the pot that finds it way into our schools, and is the kind of case for which you’d like to see society resurrect the old punishment whereby the local citizenry beats the hell out of the crook, tars and feathers him and rides him out of town on a rail. But the law has other ideas and those include incarceration and forfeiture. The problem with forfeiture is that law enforcement is also benefiting from the illegal drug trade, albeit from the opposite side of the spectrum. It sounds like a good idea. More funds for investigation and enforcement. But when there is this kind of treasure trove available to underfunded and overburdened cops, where is the incentive to eradicate the criminal activity from whence it flows? It’s not a simple problem with a simple solution but the bottom line, dear hearts, is that what we’re doing ain’t working. Quincy R. Jackson, Rogers - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck