Drug cops took a college kid’s savings and now 13 police departments want a cut
Civil asset forfeiture: where cops are able to take cash and property from people who are never convicted of -- and in some cases, never even charged with -- a crime.
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TSA Public Affairs spokesperson Lisa Farbstein tweeted a picture of a passenger's unusual luggage at Richmond International Airport.
"If you had $75,000, is this how you'd transport it? Just asking! TSA @ #RIC spotted this traveler's preferred method," Farbstein wrote.
The image shows a large amount of cash in what appears to be a carry-on bag. While definitely something you probably wouldn't expect to be packed and taken aboard a flight, Farbstein's tweet created a backlash online, with many arguing the TSA violated the passenger's privacy... and possibly put the traveler's distinct luggage at risk for theft.
A Richmond International Airport spokesperson tells us that under asset forfeiture laws, a person needs to have some kind of bill of sale or have proof of explanation to explain why you're carrying that kind of cash. In this case, the man wasn't able to, so the money -- like the weapons they often post on its blog -- is now in the hands of a federal agency.
The passenger was not charged and was able to continue onto his flight.
