$1.3 million seized from alleged drug courier

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - A woman traveling from Atlanta to San Diego with a child in a rental truck on a west Alabama interstate had $1.3 million in cash that federal investigators seized as drug proceeds. <br> <br> Alabama state troopers stopped the vehicle Tuesday on Interstate 20/59 near the Greene County line for an unspecified traffic violation, Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Dorris Teague said. <br> <br> A search of the vehicle located the cash, which has been turned over to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. <br> <br> The woman was released. Her name was not disclosed because no charges were filed immediately, said Gregory Borland, the DEA agent in charge of the Birmingham office. <br> <br> Borland said the investigation was ongoing. <br> <br> ``We are confident that probable cause exists to justify forfeiture of the currency,&#39;&#39; he said Friday. <br> <br> He described the cash as ``proceeds from drug-trafficking activities.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> In such cases, the person who had the money confiscated must go to federal court to claim it after giving proof that it&#39;s not from drug dealing. <br> <br> It&#39;s the second multimillion-dollar seizure in Tuscaloosa County this year. <br> <br> Sheriffs deputies seized $2.27 million while conducting a traffic detail near the Greene County line Jan. 16. That money also was turned over to DEA, Borland said. <br> <br> There have been no arrests in the January incident. <br> <br> ``These are two very significant seizures by anyone&#39;s standard,&#39;&#39; Borland said, calling it a challenge for drug dealers to deal with a large amount of currency once they&#39;ve made deliveries. <br> <br> Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ted Sexton said Friday that he doesn&#39;t know yet if his department will share in the forfeited drug money. <br> <br> ``We do not count that in our budget,&#39;&#39; he said.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/10/188482