What happens to it?

It seems that every day the newspaper has articles regarding seized drugs during transportation into our country. This “weapon” that is destroying many societies by destroying its most treasured asset of youth bothers me tremendously. I am high on life and do not understand why someone (either young or old) would want to feel miserable and consider it fun. I also cannot understand how human beings (if they can still be considered human, because they certainly are not humane) can purposely destroy the lives of others by providing drugs to them.

A few weeks ago an article in the Orange County Register was about a boat that was stranded off shore. When the Coast Guard arrived to assist those on board, they found two tons of Marijuana on board being smuggled from Mexico to San Diego, CA. They and their counter parts that were waiting for the arrival of the boat were all arrested. Then I wondered, “What does happen to the confiscated drugs and how it is handled by our police and related agencies. What do they do with it?” Here are some answers I was able to obtain.

• The drugs are destroyed (incinerated) and the cash goes to various law enforcement organizations and into the general fund of the federal government with some to each state involved in that particular crime.

• Money is used by the confiscating agency for other police purposes, such as vehicles, equipment, new buildings, etc. Any other property confiscated, such as vehicles, houses, etc., will be auctioned off, and that money in turn is used by the confiscating agency in the same way as confiscated money. All of this is after the case has gone all the way through the court system. As a note, money must be over a certain amount for the police to confiscate it.

• Confiscated money and drugs have an extensive security trail established, that will not allow drugs or money to be tampered with. It’s called the chain of evidence. Great security measures are in place to protect this recovered evidence. This evidence is held in extremely tight security areas, until time for court. Once all appeals have been met, the drugs are destroyed and the money is used to purchase police equipment or to support a charitable organization, like the Fraternal Order of Police Youth Camp.

I would like to go to one of these bonfires and cheer for the police and the agencies that try to get some of these drugs off the street. Every little bit helps.