Meese Acts on Police Complaints About Seized Property : Faster Drug Asset Distribution Ordered

Atty. Gen. Edwin Meese III, responding to reports of serious delays in giving police departments millions of dollars in assets seized from drug dealers, has ordered the Justice Department to speed up distribution of the cash and property, officials said Friday.

First Lady Nancy Reagan also has expressed her concern to the Justice Department about the slow pace of the program, which is designed to help local police fight narcotics trafficking, department officials said.

Law enforcement officials, particularly in Southern California, have been increasingly frustrated by postponements of up to two years in receiving cash and property they have confiscated from drug dealers--delays that seem to contradict the Reagan Administration’s stepped-up campaign against drugs.

Backlog of Requests

The Times reported Wednesday that the Justice Department has a backlog of 9,500 applications from law enforcement agencies seeking the release of millions of dollars in cash, cars, planes and other property. The Los Angeles Police Department, awaiting the release of at least $20 million, has cases dating back to 1984--the year the program was created.

Some police officials complain that the delays in receiving the money have hampered their planned expansions of anti-drug campaigns, purchases of new equipment and increases in manpower.

Sen. Pete Wilson (R-Calif.), who had urged Meese to speed up distribution of the seized assets at the behest of police officials, said Friday that he was pleased by the attorney general’s action.

“I understand it was not a deliberate impoundment. It was rather a matter of ineptitude,” Wilson said. “Whatever the reason, I’m glad the attorney general has moved on the problem because the money is desperately needed by law enforcement agencies to combat the drug problem.”

Up to 90% of Assets

Under the assets program, police departments may receive up to 90% of the cash, vehicles, real estate or other property they seize in cases in which the federal government is involved in the investigation or prosecution.

Justice Department officials, faced with a flood of applications from police departments, acknowledged that they have not devoted sufficient staff to process the cases, obtain court orders when necessary and release the property.

Meese has directed the department to come up with a plan by next week to clear the backlog and expedite release of the money and property, said James I. K. Knapp, deputy associate attorney general.

“We hope to streamline the times down to just a few months or less,” Knapp said. “To a certain extent, we’re the victims of our own success.”

Help From Van de Kamp

In addition, the Justice Department has agreed to accept an offer of assistance from California Atty. Gen. John K. Van de Kamp to speed distribution of the money by helping law enforcement officials complete their applications, said Brad Cates, director of the department’s assets forfeiture office.