EASTON, Pa. — Northampton County’s drug forfeiture program seized $168,623.13 in cash, 11 firearms and four vehicles so far for 2022-23, boosted by last year's creation of a county drug task force, District Attorney Terry Houck said in a release Tuesday.
"Our full-time drug task force has now been operational for just over one year and has contributed immensely to the success of our drug forfeitures," Houck, who is seeking re-election, said in the release.
- Northampton County’s drug forfeiture program seized $168,623.13 in cash, 11 firearms and four vehicles so far for the 2022-23 fiscal year, boosted by last year's creation of a county drug task force
- District Attorney Terry Houck, who is seeking re-election, said the money will be used to support police training and drug education programs
- Civil forfeiture has been controversial, with restrictions and limits on seizures
Houck said that in 2023 alone, the task force has seized nearly $40,000 in cash, 20 firearms and more than 20 grams of fentanyl, in addition to
amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and MDMA.
"And we’re only seven months into the year," Houck said in the release. "I am proud to report this task force has amplified our ability to execute
more comprehensive investigations and turn drug dealers’ illegal profits against them."
Houck said the Controlled Substance Act lets his office seize money, vehicles and even real estate if there's evidence it's being used to sell drugs or bought with the profits from drug trade.
He said the money seized from suspected drug dealers will go toward drug education for children, police training and gun buyback operations, as well as to support community organizations the release did not identify.
The practice of civil forfeiture is not without controversy.
The Obama administration put limits on how much district attorneys can seize, and under what conditions, stipulating that in most cases, a suspect must be facing charges relevant to the asset to be seized.
In 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions dialed back those restrictions federally.Now, civil forfeiture is legal, but limited in Pennsylvania.
