Continued at: http://news.tbo.com/news/MGA9L9IDHLD.html

Sarasota Cashes In On Forfeitures By Luring Drug Dealers To Area

By MIKE SAEWITZ Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Published: Oct 7, 2003


SARASOTA - Dealers from as far away as England, Venezuela and Panama are
being lured to Sarasota to buy illegal drugs from undercover detectives
posing as dealers.

Police arrest the dealers and seize the cash and vehicles left behind.

Since 2001, more than $1.3 million has flowed into the department under
federal and state forfeiture laws that allow police to keep money and
valuables seized from suspected dealers. Sarasota police say the drug deals
take dangerous people off the street, and the cash supplements the police
budget and helps some charitable causes. Much of the money was used to
perpetuate the undercover operations and pay for law enforcement
conferences and supplies. According to a Sarasota Herald-Tribune review:

About $240,000 went to pay for conferences for officers, including training
trips to Orlando, Panama City Beach and Las Vegas.

Since 2001, a confidential informant has been paid about $115,000 to help
with the operations. The department has given $100,000 to several other
informants. 

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