Indiana police are seizing FedEx packages containing cash

Civil Forfeiture and Constitutionality

• Many commenters call civil asset forfeiture “state-sanctioned robbery,” arguing it reverses “innocent until proven guilty” and violates the 4th and 5th Amendments (unreasonable seizures, lack of due process).
• Others note SCOTUS has repeatedly upheld versions of forfeiture: distinguishing criminal punishment (subject to 8th Amendment limits) from civil cases against the property itself, with lower burdens of proof and fewer protections.
• Several cite recent Supreme Court opinions (especially Culley) where justices on both left and right express skepticism and compare modern forfeiture to archaic “deodand” practices.
• There is frustration that cases are often mooted or settled before reaching SCOTUS, preventing strong precedents.

FedEx, Cash, and the Fourth Amendment

• FedEx policy prohibits shipping cash, but commenters stress this is a contract issue, not a crime and not a justification for police seizure.
• Debate over whether private carriers can consent to searches on customers’ behalf; USPS first‑class mail is seen as having stronger constitutional protection.
• Some argue this kind of routine package sniffing/searching looks like a blanket search and is 4A‑problematic; others point out users “agree” via fine print and that only a tiny fraction of packages are seized.

Police Practices, K‑9 Units, and Incentives

• Strong suspicion that drug/currency‑sniffing dogs are used to manufacture probable cause; studies and anecdotes about handlers unconsciously cueing dogs are mentioned.
• Commenters discuss how forfeiture cases are filed against the money (“State v. $50,000”), with reversed burden of proof, high legal costs, and widespread use of “equitable sharing” between local and federal agencies.
• Some note legitimate uses (e.g., recovering scam proceeds overseas) but see those as narrow exceptions misused to justify broad abusive practice.

Politics, Libertarian Groups, and NGOs

• Institute for Justice (IJ) is widely praised for fighting forfeiture and other government overreach; some label it libertarian or “right‑wing,” others dispute partisan framing.
• FIRE is mentioned as effective on free‑speech litigation but criticized for some public positions and rankings.

Risk, Cash Use, and Alternatives

• Some say mailing large cash is inherently risky and often tied to tax avoidance or illegality; others point out it is legal and sometimes used by people who distrust banks.
• Suggested safer options: USPS Registered Mail, foreign currencies/assets for tail‑risk scenarios, or crypto (though commenters note crypto and stablecoins can also be frozen or seized).