US Government Seizures (Airport)

[pnorell]

This past month I represented a watch broker in connection with the seizure of numerous high end watches and cash at a US airport. Certain airports and federal law enforcement agencies in the US have an aggressive approach to seizing high end watches and cash to investigate their origins.

The government must establish the items seized are proceeds from illicit activity or evidence of such. However, they are allowed to investigate during the time they hold the items. These statutory time constraints can total 4-6 months and sometimes longer. An aggressive approach is necessary and proper.

File a timely claim to contest the administrative forfeiture through the seizing agency - through the law enforcement agency's legal counsel in either the seizing district or Washington, DC.

This will trigger the initiation of a judicial forfeiture by the United States Attorney's Office in the district where the seizure took place. Establish the lawful source and use of the funds and trace the transactions. Have legal counsel engage immediately the United States Attorneys Office.

Ensure the language of any settlement includes no admission of criminal or civil liability and get a full release from the Government in relation to any and all claims in may have against you.

In the matter just resolved, we got everything returned in 90 days.

[1st amg]

Ok then......thanks.....I think.

[Brew]

Thanks! I'll keep this in mind the next time I'm traveling with ill-gotten goods!!