WHEREAS, the citizens of the United States of America are victims of illicit drug trafficking and use; and

WHEREAS, the only purpose of drug trafficking is for the drug traffickers to make a profit and to amass wealth for their personal use and to continue their illegal activities at the expense of the American public; and

WHEREAS, drug traffickers have acquired billions of dollars, mansions, luxury vehicles, artwork, jewelry, and other expensive personal assets through their criminal activities; and

WHEREAS, no one should profit from their crimes; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. citizens have mandated that law enforcement officials disrupt and stop drug trafficking organizations from manufacturing and distributing illegal drugs to their communities; and

WHEREAS, law enforcement officials have found the forfeiture of drug traffickers’ assets to be an extremely effective weapon to deprive drug trafficking organizations of the means used to commit their crimes and the profits of their illegal activities; and

WHEREAS, forfeited property and money are used to help victims of crime and communities and to enhance the ability of law enforcement agencies to protect the public from drug trafficking and other crimes; and

WHEREAS, legislative proposals have been introduced that would make it more difficult for federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to successfully seize and forfeit the profits of drug trafficking so that they can be used to benefit the honest public; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) duly assembled at its 105th annual conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, strongly opposes any attempt at limiting the asset forfeiture statutes that have proven to be so helpful in the war against drugs.