Mexico's Senate approves property seizure law

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Mexico's Senate approves property seizure law
Thu Apr 2, 10:34 pm ET

MEXICO CITY – Mexico's Senate on Thursday unanimously approved legislation that would allow the government to seize property from suspected drug traffickers and other criminals before they are convicted.

Under existing laws, suspects must first be convicted before their property can be seized and trials often last years in Mexico. The new law allows prosecutors to ask a judge for a seizure order before the end of the trial.

The law covers property bought with income from, or used in connection with, organized crime, drug trafficking, kidnapping, human trafficking or vehicle theft. No compensation would be paid for any property seized.

The bill has been the subject of months of heated debate, with supporters of the law accusing opponents of being soft on drug trafficking. Opponents argue the law leaves property owners — even those who had rented land or houses in good faith — with few means to defend themselves in seizure cases.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090403/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_mexico_drug_property;_ylt=AiN60S_VbCWESjgJkNBUetS3IxIF

[FiveGoodMen]

1. Yuck

And of course, the seiz-ers will get to keep/sell-off whatever they take, thereby making this an income source for the cops.

[balantz]

2. I always cringe inside when I see the tide of fascism taking over this upsidedown world. n/t

[Kali]

3. following our lead, I see

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Yeah--picking up on the worst features of our criminal system.

I guess la mordida just isn't enough for a thin-stretched Federale to live on these days.

[Gman]

5. If this is used judiciously, this is probably a good thing

considering that Mexico's "anything goes as long as everyone gets a piece of the action" attitude has had a lot to do with their current serious drug cartel problems. If Mexico starts seizing cartel stuff they also seize the cartels' power since money is power. That doesn't do a lot for the billions in cash in small bills that's all over Mexico but it's a start.

[Wizard777]

9. Next round of political assassinations. Oh how quickly that good start comes to an end.

[lynnertic]

14. You mean, like tasers would be a good thing if used judiciously?

:eyes:

[NashVegas]

15. Pretty BIG "If"

Most likely it will only affect the least powerful.

[Rebubula]

6. Legalize it

That is the solution.

However, when entire police forces are under attack and headless bodies are showing up all over the place - you may need to try a new tack. The drug war is real in Mexico...of course, we subsidize it with our draconian laws and requiring our 'allies' to toe the line.


Why is pot still illegal?

[AngryAmish]

8. May I compliment you on the tack v. tact distinction?

You don't see that much around here.

(And pot should be legalized. While I can't stand potheads as much as the next guy, they are generally harmless - and less harmless than drunks.

[NashVegas]

16. How About "Stop Smoking Crack"

It's our demand that fuels it. Legalizing it will only drive self-destructive people onto some other habit for unethical people to make money off of.

[AngryAmish]

7. This is what Columbia did to get rid of Pablo Escobar

(Well having hits squads kill all of his people, but...)

Anyway, the Clinton administration figured that it was not enough to just pursue the drug infrastructure. You had to tear down the mountain. Confiscate all the wealth, apartment buildings, nightclubs etc.

The Mexican government is in a death fight with the narcos. Luckily for them the narcos still fight each other. Americans thirst for drugs fuels all of this.

[Wizard777]

10. That's Senator Pablo Escobar. Just wait until other countries start overturning our elections.

Imagine China telling us. We understand he won your election fair and square. But because he will not force our policies on America. If you don't kill him. We will. :wow: But that is exactly what was done to Senator Pablo Escobar.

[FiveGoodMen]

11. America's thirst for drugs is fine.

People should be able to consume what they like.

Some drugs do well for people and some are better avoided.

But blaming people who enjoy a nice state of mind for the violence which is entirely about power and money is unfair and inaccurate.

Remember prohibition? Same thing happened there. Until it was repealed.

[Romulox]

18. Wrong. American authoritarianism and greed fuels all of this.

There would be no profit motive without prohibition. :hi:

[Jack_DeLeon]

12. Those laws have been abused here, imagine how badly it will be abused in Mexico

Well its a good thing I have no reason to go to Mexico, I'm sure we will see a few cases of the police planting evidence in some nicer looking American cars just for the purpose of seizing the vehicles.

[bemildred]

13. Stomping out drugs is like stomping out bacteria.

You just get meaner bacteria.

[Romulox]

17. In the US, one's property may be seized with no finding of guilt whatsoever.

If the government seizes property based on allegation of drug trafficking, the owner of the property must prove that the property was not obtained through drug activity--the government does not have the burden of proving that it was.

So Mexico is still offering more protection of civil liberties than the US does.