What Happens to Drug Money After the Police Seize It?

By Staff WriterLast Updated March 24, 2020

After the drug money is seized and the required reports taken, an order of disposition is obtained from the Attorney General allowing the police department to retain a portion of the money for its budget with the remainder going into an asset fund held by the government. As of 2014, the amount of money obtained from drug busts has tripled recently from $567 million to $1.6 billion nationwide.

If the charges or reason for seizure of funds is overturned or dismissed by the courts, then the money can be returned along with any seized property. Individuals who believe that their money or items were seized wrongly can file a report with the seizing agency and possibly have the items returned to them depending on the situation.