Asset Forfeiture Program Participants and Roles
The Justice Asset Forfeiture Program currently has 13 member agencies, including both Department of Justice components and components outside the Department. Each component plays a distinct role in supporting the Program.
| Participant/Component | Abbreviations | Role |
|---|---|---|
| AFMS | Manages the Assets Forfeiture Fund, the Consolidated Asset Tracking System (CATS), Program-wide contracts, Program’s internal controls, interpretation of the Assets Forfeiture Fund statute, and approval of Fund uses. AFMS also serves as liaison for legislative matters affecting the Program's budget, and with lawmakers on matters of financial or Program's activities. | |
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Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
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ATF | Protects our communities from the illegal use and trafficking of firearms and ammunition; the illegal use and storage of explosives; and the illegal diversion of alcohol and tobacco products. ATF seizes assets involved in violation of federal laws for the activities above and serves as the primary custodian of seized and forfeited firearms and ammunition. For more information: www.atf.gov/asset-forfeiture |
|
Drug Enforcement Administration
|
DEA | Enforces the Federal controlled substances laws and regulations, and seizes illegal drugs, cash, or other property acquired through or used to facilitate illegal drug-related activity. For more information: www.dea.gov/operations/asset-forfeiture |
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Federal Bureau of Investigation
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FBI | Enforces a broad range of Federal laws and regulations, including white-collar, organized, drug-related and violent crimes, and terrorism, and seizes proceeds and facilitating property related to those crimes. For more information: www.fbi.gov/investigate/white-collar-crime/asset-forfeiture |
|
Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (Criminal Division) |
MLARS | Establishes asset forfeiture legal policies and procedures for the Program; coordinates multi-district asset seizures; litigates civil and criminal cases; oversees the Equitable Sharing Program; rules on petitions for remission or mitigation of forfeiture and restoration requests; coordinates international forfeiture; and conducts the asset forfeiture training program. For more information: www.justice.gov/criminal-mlars, www.justice.gov/criminal |
| Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces | OCDETF | Investigates and prosecutes high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and other priority transnational criminal organizations; facilitates, manages, and coordinates multi-agency law enforcement efforts; and leverages intelligence across multiple investigative platforms. For more information: www.justice.gov/ocdetf |
| United States Attorneys’ Offices | USAO | Prosecutes federal criminal and civil cases, including judicial forfeiture actions against real and personal property subject to forfeiture under federal law. For more information: www.justice.gov/usao |
| United States Marshals Service | USMS | Serves as the primary custodian of seized and forfeited property (other than firearms and ammunition) for the Program. USMS also disposes of forfeited property held in its custody in accordance with law. For more information: www.usmarshals.gov/what-we-do/asset-forfeiture |
Agencies Outside the Department of Justice
Several non-DOJ agencies also participate in the DOJ Asset Forfeiture Program. These agencies investigate criminal activities but seize assets for judicial forfeitures only.
| Agency/component | Abbreviations | Role |
|---|---|---|
|
Bureau of Diplomatic Security Service (Department of State) |
DSS | Investigates passport and visa fraud and targets the profits made by vendors who provide fraudulent documentation or others who utilize fraudulent visas and/or passports to further their criminal enterprises. For more information: www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-management/bureau-of-diplomatic-security, www.state.gov |
|
Defense Criminal Investigative Service (Department of Defense) |
DCIS | Serves as criminal investigative arm of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense. Conducts investigations and seizures in support of crucial National Defense priorities, including homeland security/terrorism, product substitution, contract fraud, public corruption, computer crimes, and illegal technology transfers. For more information: www.dodig.mil/Components/DCIS, www.defense.gov |
|
Office of Criminal Investigations (Food and Drug Administration) |
FDA | Enforces FDA-related laws and regulations and conducts criminal investigations of illegal activities involving FDA-regulated products, including but not limited to health care fraud schemes, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, illegal distribution of adulterated foods, and product tampering. For more information: www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/criminal-investigations, www.fda.gov |
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Office of the Inspector General (United States Department of Agriculture) |
USDA | Conducts investigations to prevent fraud and strengthen USDA's ability to deliver its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), organic products, and crop insurance programs with integrity and effectiveness. For more information: www.usda.gov/oig, www.usda.gov |
| United States Postal Inspection Service | USPIS | Investigates criminal activity under its jurisdiction and conducts seizures to deter profit-motivated crimes such as mail fraud, money laundering, and drug trafficking using the mail. For more information: www.uspis.gov/terms-of-service#asset-forfeiture |
Updated November 9, 2023