02/28/2025 - JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.
Missouri State
Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick today released a compilation of property seizures
made under Missouri's Criminal Activity Forfeiture Act (CAFA) during calendar
year 2024. The report shows law enforcement officials seized just under $2.7
million worth of property in 230 seizures. In 2023, law enforcement officials
seized approximately $2.4 million worth of property in 272 seizures.
Under the
Criminal Activity Forfeiture Act, law enforcement officials may seize and the
state can seek forfeiture of property or cash believed to be involved in or
related to a crime. State law requires prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney
General to file information about reported seizures each year with the State
Auditor's Office.
As reported, approximately
31.5 percent of the total seized in 2024 was transferred to federal agencies.
The remainder was either returned (11.9 percent), transferred to the state (0.2
percent) or still pending a final decision (55.3 percent). Approximately 1.1
percent of reported seizures listed another disposition.
Additional
information is available in the compilation report, which is available online.
This report covers forfeitures under Missouri's CAFA. A report on activities
under federal forfeiture laws will be released later this year.
A complete copy
of the report is available here.
