2y ago

‘Didn’t State Who He Was’: Federal Drug Agents Seize Millions from Passengers at Atlanta Airport While Posing as Regular Travelers In Plainclothes In ‘Cold Consent Encounters’

news.yahoo.com

48 comments

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.
- Nah, they REALLY buried the lede with this bit further down. Emphasis added.
  Most travelers are unclear of their rights when it comes to airport searches. In order to be admitted entry to the airport’s gated areas, passengers must submit themselves to TSA security screenings. That’s a fact.
  However, the random searches by DEA agents at the Atlanta airport give passengers pause, but it should be noted that they’re not mandated. The DEA officially calls its stops and searches at airport gates “cold consent encounters,” and passengers are free to end the encounter and walk away if they’d like.
  
  free to end the encounter and walk away if they'd like.
  Well I know what I'm going to do. "Get fucked pig" and walk off.
  
  Yeah because that's how encounters with cops ever happen 🙄
  If I had a dollar for every time a cop has murdered someone for failing to obey an unlawful order, I would be rich enough for cops to let me get away with anything!
  
  The DEA is a failed experiment filled to the brim with corruption and toxicity. It should've been dismantled decades ago. Redundant executive agencies have gotten out of control in the US (e.g. Dept of Homeland Sec (DHS), NSA, DEA, etc). There's nothing the DEA does that the FBI isn't capable of doing. Same with DHS. And I won't even get into how the DEA violated the Constitution by essentially writing their own laws regarding drugs (i.e. Controlled Substances Act states that determination if drugs have medical use is to be conducted by the Surgeon General, yet the DEA repeatedly ignored SG and just labels drugs however the fuck they want).
- 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”
  
  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)
- This is just flat out robbery.
  
  Civil forfeiture is one of many bullshit laws that exists only to protect and serve the police.
- How is this allowed in US, it's what you might expect from a police force in a third world country
  
  It shouldn’t be. Steve Lehto covers it a lot on his channel. So much there’s an actual playlist and I can tell you there’s more than 23 videos on the topic.
  https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIN0HaGKANpp8-Zw7NEh9XokjmzYCIRiL
  In fact these are all over a year old. It’s just abhorrent.
- Did they? That's pretty much what I got out of the headline.
Bullies taking people's lunch money
- Yup, and it's on YOU to know they have no actual power to stop you.
  
  They shouldn't but absolutely do. They follow the conservative maxim and consider themselves part of the in-group
  "Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition ... There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” --Frank Wilhoit"
Phantastic country where the police can just legally rob you.
- In fairness, it DOES vary state by state. Some states require a conviction before they can just seize your assets, but not all of them.
  One of the interesting things about having 50 different rules and regulations.
  https://www.findlaw.com/criminal/criminal-rights/asset-forfeiture-laws-by-state.html
  
  well, this is federal, so it applies to all states...
I was followed around by an obvious undercover one time, assumed they were checking me as a terrorist, but it was far more likely they thought I was a mule.
Me: Middle-aged white guy, desert combat boots, straw cowboy hat, huge CamelBak. When I travel, in any way, I dress for comfort, weather and the ability to handle whatever random shit comes my way.
Here's what I wrote at the time so I don't mix up memories:
Got followed around DFW by an OBVIOUS undercover. Standard-issue ex-military federalé. White guy, early 40's, good looking, square jaw, shaved tight, excellent shape. Clothes so plain it was obvious he was trying to blend in, BUT the kinda boots you wear to hike or fight in. Ever seen a 30/40-something undercover cop in a college bar? Yeah, that guy, except the look screamed professional. Seems this guy is tailing me, I might be paranoid, pulled some "tradecraft". Turned and came back at him. He stops to look in a closed perfume/soap shop window. Not a place in which guys would be interested, nothing to actually see in there, and he's obviously not looking into the store. He's watching my reflection!
Glanced at a shop window, oh lawd he comin'! Went a few dozen yards down the concourse, pulling my tail along, spun a 180 and walked back through the crowd waiting to board. He casually spun into facing another random shop, unfocused eyes, perfectly still, not window shopping. Lost him soon after. Did he catch onto me?! Did he feel he was blown and called in another tail? Found me harmless and gave up? LOL, the man certainly avoided eye contact like I was some kinda Gorgon!
SO wanted to blow his cover! Wimped out.
All I can figure is that I checked a pistol case, perfectly legit, and sported a loaded CamelBak with gear loaded in the molle loops. Maybe the grenade pouch looked sus? Also, had a 7-hour layover and walked every square inch of all 5 terminals. Looked like I was casing the joint?
- You made toast! https://youtu.be/tYFOXeItRFM?si=6RMsubsTlz14q52c
"Flights from Atlanta to Los Angeles are routinely monitored by these officers, who call them “known drug trafficking routes.”"
Atlanta cops are scum? Never would have guessed.

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