• grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    2 years ago

    Of course Yahoo buried the lede:

    While the searches may not be popular, they’re certainly profitable.

    Clayton County records and federal documents show that drug agents find large amounts of cash on passengers at departing gates rather than drugs. Agents have seized millions of dollars, and while travelers aren’t arrested, their money is often administratively forfeited.

    Like most civil forfeiture cases, people who have their money taken must prove in court that their money isn’t connected to drug trafficking or other illegal activity. Seizures like these don’t just happen at the Atlanta airport. They’ve taken place at airports across the country.

    • anemoia_one@lemmynsfw.comEnglish
      0·
      2 years ago

      must prove in court that their money isn’t connected to drug trafficking or other illegal activity

      Ah yes, the cornerstone of US law, “guilty until proven innocent”

      • pedro@lemm.eeEnglish
        0·
        2 years ago

        Generally I would agree with you on that but here aren’t they already guilty of moving large cash amounts without any sort of authorization? (I don’t know if it’s legal or not to transport that much cash in the US)