02/28/2022 - Jefferson City, Mo.
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway today released a
compilation of property seizures made under Missouri's Criminal Activity
Forfeiture Act (CAFA) in 2021. The report shows law enforcement officials
seized approximately $5.3 million worth of property in 514 seizures. In 2020,
law enforcement officials seized approximately $4.2 million worth of property
in 502 seizures.
Under the Criminal Activity Forfeiture Act, law enforcement
officials may take possession 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.
Approximately 33.9 percent of the total seized in 2021 was
transferred to federal agencies. The remainder was either returned (4.9
percent), transferred to the state (1.9 percent) or still pending a final
decision (47.4 percent). Approximately 11.9 percent of reported seizures did
not indicate the disposition of the seized property or listed another
disposition.
Additional information is available in the compilation
report, which is available online here. 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.