Pubdate: Sat, 06 Apr 2002 Source: Free Press, The (NC) Copyright: 2002 Kinston Free Press Contact: http://www.kinston.com/Contact.cfm Website: http://www.kinston.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1732 Author: Jennifer Shrader Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture) $16,000 IN DRUG TAXES COLLECTED Law Enforcement Assists Department Of Revenue Local law enforcement agents spent Thursday with the state Department of Revenue, but they weren't being audited. The officers were helping agents collect more than $10,000 in taxes owed the state by local drug dealers. "It's a state law that if someone has more than a certain amount of controlled substance, it has to be taxed," said Kinston police Detective Tim Dilday. Revenue agents didn't have any problems collecting the money, he said. "We just went along to help them find people," Dilday said. "They are pretty crafty in getting their money. They look at it as just another taxpayer who owes the government." Officers collected $16,000 in cash and property, and arrested several people for being in possession of a controlled substance. "If you have a controlled substance you're required to purchase tax stamps," Dilday said. "If the stamps aren't there or aren't in the right place you can be charged for that too." - --- MAP posted-by: Josh