The Heat: US civil asset forfeiture controversy

The Heat

The Heat: US civil asset forfeiture controversy

Civil asset forfeiture is a legal tool that gives U.S. law enforcement the power to seize property and money suspected of being related to a crime, but the practice is controversial.

Originally it was seen as a way for police to target drug-trafficking and money laundering rings, but law enforcement agencies across the United States now face growing criticism over allegations of widespread abuse of the practice.

CCTV America’s Hendrik Sybrandy reports from Denver.


The Heat was joined by the following guests:

  • From Kansas City, Missouri, Eapen Thampy joined The Heat. Thampy is the Founder and Executive Director of Americans for Forfeiture Reform.
  • In the CCTV America Washington, D.C. studio is Stefan Cassella. He is a federal prosecutor, who was one of the U.S. government’s leading experts on asset forfeiture and money laundering for over 30 years.
  • From New York, The Heat was joined by Richard Bistrong. He is the CEO of Front-line Anti-bribery. Bistrong served 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.