Pubdate: Sun, 30 Sep 2001
Source: Daily Independent, The (KY)
Copyright: 2001 The Daily Independent, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.dailyindependent.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1573
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)

FUNDING FADE

Money Must Always Be Available To Make Undercover Purchases Of Drugs

If necessary, the FIVCO Area Drug Enforcement Task Force should dip into 
its forfeiture account in order to continue the undercover drug buys 
essential to building cases against those who traffic in illegal drugs.

Raceland Mayor Dick Fields is right. If the task force ever reaches the 
point where it cannot make a drug buy because of a lack of funds, "we might 
as well close up and go to the house ..."

FADE Director Bob Jessie last week told the agency's board that the budget 
for drug buys has been reduced from $50,000 to $40,000 for the fiscal year 
that began July 1. Of that amount, $16,000 already has been spent. He said 
he has instructed FADE officers to stretch the remaining $24,000 as far as 
possible.

Jessie said he is reluctant to use the agency's forfeiture account for drug 
buys because he wants to use the fund as a hedge against future budget 
cuts. However, it is better to use that account than not to make a drug buy 
that will strengthen a case against an alleged pusher.

This newspaper has long opposed the seizure of the property of those who 
have been neither charged nor convicted of drug offenses, but both state 
and federal laws now limit such abuses of power. However, seizing the 
assets of those convicted of drug offenses - particularly if those assets 
were gained from money earned through drug trafficking -  is a legitimate 
means of funding drug enforcement programs. The forfeiture fund should be 
used to further anti-drug enforcement efforts.

For the small counties and communities that participate in FADE, the agency 
provides their most effective means of investigating drug trafficking. 
Indeed, without FADE, there would be little or no investigation of drug 
trafficking in those communities.

FADE has a record of building strong cases against drug traffickers that 
lead to convictions. Drug buys are an essential part of its undercover 
operations. Money to make purchases of drugs that could put some pusher out 
of business should come from wherever it is available.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jackl