Pubdate: Thu, 24 Oct 2002
Source: Tuscaloosa News, The (AL)
Copyright: 2002 The Tuscaloosa News
Contact:  http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1665
Author: Stephanie Taylor
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)

LOCAL OFFICIALS FIND $1.3 MILLION IN VAN, ORIGIN OF CASH UNKNOWN

TUSCALOOSA -- Alabama State Troopers have seized more than $1.3 million in 
cash from a woman they pulled over near the Greene County line Tuesday morning.

The trooper stopped a woman driving southbound on Interstate 20/59 and 
obtained permission to search her truck. Alabama Department of Public 
Safety spokeswoman Dorris Teague said the woman was stopped for an 
unspecified traffic violation.

The driver, whose name was not released, was questioned after officers 
found $1,340,105 in cash in the vehicle. She was released without being 
charged.

Authorities did not release details about the woman's destination, where 
she had come from or whether there were any passengers in the vehicle.

The Department of Public Safety and the U.S. Drug Enforcement 
Administration are investigating the origin of the money.

If the money is determined to be drug-related, the Department of Public 
Safety would be eligible to receive a portion of the seized cash under 
asset forfeiture laws.

This is potentially the second million-dollar-plus windfall for authorities 
in Tuscaloosa County this year.

Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's deputies seized $2.27 million while conducting 
a traffic detail near the Greene County line Jan. 16. Sheriff Ted Sexton 
said at the time that it was one of the largest cash seizures ever made in 
the state.
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