Justice Department Halts DEA Airport Searches Over Civil Rights Concerns

An investigation found DEA practices risked constitutional violations, racial profiling, and improper cash seizures from travelers.

The Justice Department has ordered the DEA to suspend most airport searches following an Inspector General report highlighting significant issues with these practices.
The investigation revealed that DEA agents conducted warrantless searches based on loose criteria, such as last-minute ticket purchases, and seized cash through civil forfeiture without filing criminal charges.
A paid network of airline employees flagged passengers for searches, with one employee receiving tens of thousands of dollars from seized funds over several years.
The report criticized the searches as ineffective, resource-wasting, and potentially violating travelers' constitutional rights, but could not definitively conclude racial profiling due to a lack of comprehensive data collection.
Advocacy groups, including the Institute for Justice, have applauded the decision, connecting it to ongoing lawsuits challenging the DEA's use of civil asset forfeiture at airports.