Missouri Law Enforcement Seize over $5M in 2021

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Over $5 million of property was seized during 2021 under the Criminal Activity Forfeiture Act (CAFA) in Missouri.

By law, law enforcement agencies may seize property used in the furtherance of criminal activity.  State prosecuting attorneys and the Attorney General must report seizures and the disposition annually.

State Auditor Nicole Galloway’s report on CAFA seizures shows $1.8 million, or 34 percent of seized property was transferred to a Federal Agency; 1.9 percent was transferred to the State and 47 percent of the property is still pending disposition.

Disposition of $5,171 was not reported. The amount not reported includes $4,300 seized by Harrison County agencies, representing the entire amount forfeited by the county in one total seizure for the year.

Buchanan County authorities seized over $23,000 in 6 cases, while Grundy County seized over $2,700 in one case.

Statewide, over $250,000 worth of seized property was returned.  Criminal actions were filed in 284 of the 514 cases where property was seized.

The full report can be viewed HERE.