31 U.S.C. § 9705 — Department of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund

**(a) In General.—** There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the “Department of the Treasury Forfeiture Fund” (referred to in this section as the “Fund”). The Fund shall be available to the Secretary, without fiscal year limitation, with respect to seizures and forfeitures made pursuant to any law (other than section 7301 or 7302 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) enforced or administered by a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization for the following law enforcement purposes: (1) (A) Payment of all proper expenses of seizure (including investigative costs incurred by a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization leading to seizure) or the proceedings of forfeiture and sale, including the expenses of detention, inventory, security, maintenance, advertisement, or disposal of the property, and if condemned by a court and a bond for such costs was not given, the costs as taxed by the court. (B) Payment for— (i) contract services; (ii) the employment of outside contractors to operate and manage properties or to provide other specialized services necessary to dispose of such properties in an effort to maximize the return from such properties; and (iii) reimbursing any Federal, State, or local agency for any expenditures made to perform the functions described in this subparagraph. (C) Awards of compensation to informers under section 619 of the Tariff Act of 1930 ([19 U.S.C. 1619](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title19-section1619&num=0&edition=prelim)). (D) Satisfaction of— (i) liens for freight, charges, and contributions in general average, notice of which has been filed with the appropriate Customs officer according to law; and (ii) subject to the discretion of the Secretary, other valid liens and mortgages against property that has been forfeited pursuant to any law enforced or administered by a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization. To determine the validity of any such lien or mortgage, the amount of payment to be made, and to carry out the functions described in this subparagraph, the Secretary may employ and compensate attorneys and other personnel skilled in State real estate law. (E) Payment of amounts authorized by law with respect to remission and mitigation. (F) Payment of claims of parties in interest to property disposed of under section 612(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 ([19 U.S.C. 1612(b)](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title19-section1612/b&num=0&edition=prelim)), in the amounts applicable to such claims at the time of seizure. (G) Equitable sharing payments made to other Federal agencies, State and local law enforcement agencies, and foreign countries pursuant to section 616(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930 ([19 U.S.C. 1616a(c)](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title19-section1616a/c&num=0&edition=prelim)), [section 981 of title 18](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section981&num=0&edition=prelim), or subsection (g) of this section, and all costs related thereto. (H) Payment for services of experts and consultants needed by a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization to carry out the organization’s duties relating to seizure and forfeiture. (I) Payment of overtime salaries, travel, fuel, training, equipment, and other similar costs of State or local law enforcement officers that are incurred in joint law enforcement operations with a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization. (J) Payment made pursuant to guidelines promulgated by the Secretary, if such payment is necessary and directly related to seizure and forfeiture program expenses for— (i) the purchase or lease of automatic data processing systems (not less than a majority of which use will be related to such program); (ii) training; (iii) printing; and (iv) contracting for services directly related to— (I) the identification of forfeitable assets; (II) the processing of and accounting for forfeitures; and (III) the storage, maintenance, protection, and destruction of controlled substances. (2) At the discretion of the Secretary— (A) payment of awards for information or assistance leading to a civil or criminal forfeiture involving any Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization participating in the Fund; (B) purchases of evidence or information by— (i) a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization with respect to— (I) a violation of section 1956 or 1957 of title 18 (relating to money laundering); or (II) a law, the violation of which may subject property to forfeiture under section 981 or 982 of title 18; (ii) the United States Customs Service with respect to drug smuggling or a violation of section 542 or 545 of title 18 (relating to fraudulent customs invoices or smuggling); (iii) the United States Secret Service with respect to a violation of— (I) section 1028, 1029, or 1030 of title 18; (II) any law of the United States relating to coins, obligations, or securities of the United States or of a foreign government; or (III) any law of the United States which the United States Secret Service is authorized to enforce relating to fraud or other criminal or unlawful activity in or against any federally insured financial institution, the Resolution Trust Corporation, or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; (iv) the United States Customs Service or the Internal Revenue Service with respect to a violation of chapter 53 of this title (relating to the Bank Secrecy Act); (v) United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement with respect to a violation of chapter 77 of title 18 (relating to human trafficking), chapter 109A of title 18 (relating to sexual abuse), chapter 110 of title 18 (relating to child sexual exploitation), or chapter 117 of title 18 (relating to transportation for illegal sexual activity and related crimes); and (vi) the United States Coast Guard with respect to any law of the United States which the Coast Guard is authorized to enforce, assist in the enforcement of, or administer pursuant to section 102, 522, or 525 of title 14; (C) payment of costs for publicizing awards available under section 619 of the Tariff Act of 1930 ([19 U.S.C. 1619](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title19-section1619&num=0&edition=prelim)); (D) payment for equipment for any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft available for official use by a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization to enable the vessel, vehicle, or aircraft to assist in law enforcement functions, and for other equipment directly related to seizure or forfeiture, including laboratory equipment, protective equipment, communications equipment, and the operation and maintenance costs of such equipment; (E) the payment of claims against employees of the Customs Service settled by the Secretary under section 630 of the Tariff Act of 1930; (F) payment for equipment for any vessel, vehicle, or aircraft available for official use by a State or local law enforcement agency to enable the vessel, vehicle, or aircraft to assist in law enforcement functions if the vessel, vehicle, or aircraft will be used in joint law enforcement operations with a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization; (G) reimbursement of private persons for expenses incurred by such persons in cooperating with a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization in investigations and undercover law enforcement operations; and (H) payment for training foreign law enforcement personnel with respect to seizure or forfeiture activities of a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization. **(b) Limitations.—** (1) Any payment made under subparagraph (D) or (E) of subsection (a)(1) with respect to a seizure or a forfeiture of property shall not exceed the value of the property at the time of the seizure. (2) Any payment made under subsection (a)(1)(G) with respect to a seizure or forfeiture of property shall not exceed the value of the property at the time of disposition. (3) The Secretary may exempt the procurement of contract services under the Fund from division C (except sections 3302, 3501(b), 3509, 3906, 4710, and 4711) of subtitle I of title 41, section 6101(b) to (d) of title 41, and other provisions of law as may be necessary to maintain the security and confidentiality of related criminal investigations. (4) The Secretary shall assure that any equitable sharing payment made to a State or local law enforcement agency pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(G) and any property transferred to a State or local law enforcement agency pursuant to subsection (g)— (A) has a value that bears a reasonable relationship to the degree of participation of the State or local agency in the law enforcement effort resulting in the forfeiture, taking into account the total value of all property forfeited and the total law enforcement effort with respect to the violation of law on which the forfeiture is based; and (B) will serve to encourage further cooperation between the recipient State or local agency and Federal law enforcement agencies. (5) Amounts transferred by the Attorney General pursuant to [section 524(c)(1) of title 28](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title28-section524/c/1&num=0&edition=prelim), or by the Postmaster General pursuant to [section 2003 of title 39](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title39-section2003&num=0&edition=prelim), and deposited into the Fund pursuant to subsection (c), shall be available for Federal law enforcement related purposes of the Department of the Treasury law enforcement organizations. **(c) Deposits and Credits.—** (1) With respect to fiscal year 1993, there shall be deposited into or credited to the Fund— (A) all currency forfeited during fiscal year 1993, and all proceeds from forfeitures during fiscal year 1993, under any law enforced or administered by the United States Customs Service or the United States Coast Guard; (B) all income from investments made under subsection (d); and (C) all amounts representing the equitable share of the United States Customs Service or the United States Coast Guard from the forfeiture of property under any Federal, State, local, or foreign law. (2) With respect to fiscal years beginning after fiscal year 1993, there shall be deposited into or credited to the Fund— (A) all currency forfeited after fiscal year 1993, and all proceeds from forfeitures after fiscal year 1993, under any law (other than sections 7301 and 7302 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) enforced or administered by a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization; (B) all income from investments made under subsection (d); and (C) all amounts representing the equitable share of a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization from the forfeiture of property under any Federal, State, local, or foreign law. **(d) Investments.—** Amounts in the Fund, and in any holding accounts associated with the Fund, which are not currently needed for the purposes of this section may be kept on deposit or invested in obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States and all earnings on such investments shall be deposited in the Fund. **(e) Reports to Congress.—** The Secretary shall transmit to the Congress, not later than February 1 of each year— (1) a report on— (A) the estimated total value of property forfeited with respect to which funds were not deposited in the Fund during the preceding fiscal year— (i) under any law enforced or administered by the United States Customs Service or the United States Coast Guard, in the case of fiscal year 1993; and (ii) under any law enforced or administered by the Department of the Treasury law enforcement organizations, in the case of fiscal years beginning after 1993; and (B) the estimated total value of all such property transferred to any State or local law enforcement agency; and (2) a report on— (A) the balance of the Fund at the beginning of the preceding fiscal year; (B) liens and mortgages paid and the amount of money shared with Federal, State, local, and foreign law enforcement agencies during the preceding fiscal year; (C) the net amount realized from the operations of the Fund during the preceding fiscal year, the amount of seized cash being held as evidence, and the amount of money that has been carried over into the current fiscal year; (D) any defendant’s property, not forfeited at the end of the preceding fiscal year, if the equity in such property is valued at $1,000,000 or more; (E) the total dollar value of uncontested seizures of monetary instruments having a value of over $100,000 which, or the proceeds of which, have not been deposited into the Fund pursuant to subsection (c) within 120 days after seizure, as of the end of the preceding fiscal year; (F) the balance of the Fund at the end of the preceding fiscal year; (G) the net amount, if any, of the excess unobligated amounts remaining in the Fund at the end of the preceding fiscal year and available to the Secretary for Federal law enforcement related purposes; (H) a complete set of audited financial statements (including a balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow analysis) prepared in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–576); and (I) an analysis of income and expenses showing the revenue received or lost— (i) by property category (such as general property, vehicles, vessels, aircraft, cash, and real property); and (ii) by type of disposition (such as sale, remission, cancellation, placement into official use, sharing with State and local agencies, and destruction). The Fund shall be subject to annual financial audits as authorized in the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–576). **(f) Appropriations.—** (1) There are hereby appropriated from the Fund such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes described in subsection (a)(1). (2) There are authorized to be appropriated from the Fund to carry out the purposes set forth in subsections (a)(2) 11 So in original. Probably should be “subsection”. not to exceed— (A) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1993; and (B) $50,000,000 for each fiscal year after fiscal year 1993. (3) (A) Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), at the end of each of fiscal years 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997, the Secretary shall transfer from the Fund not more than $100,000,000 to the Special Forfeiture Fund established by section 6073 of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.22 See References in Text note below. (B) Transfers pursuant to subparagraph (A) shall be made only from excess unobligated amounts and only to the extent that, as determined by the Secretary, such transfers will not impair the future availability of amounts for the purposes described in subsection (a). Further, transfers under subparagraph (A) may not exceed one-half of the excess unobligated balance for a year. In addition, transfers under subparagraph (A) may be made only to the extent that the sum of the transfers in a fiscal year and one-half of the unobligated balance at the beginning of that fiscal year for the Special Forfeiture Fund does not exceed $100,000,000. (C) The Secretary of the Treasury shall reserve an amount not to exceed $30,000,000 from the unobligated balances remaining in the Customs Forfeiture Fund on September 30, 1992, and such amount shall be transferred to the Fund on October 1, 1992, or, if later, the date that is 15 days after the date of the enactment of this section. Such amount shall be available for any expenses or activities authorized under this section. At the end of fiscal year 33 So in original. Probably should be “years”. 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996, the Secretary shall reserve in the Fund an amount not to exceed $50,000,000 of the unobligated balances in the Fund, or, if the Secretary determines that a greater amount is necessary for asset specific expenses, an amount equal to not more than 10 percent of the total obligations from the Fund in the preceding fiscal year. At the end of fiscal year 1997, and at the end of each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall reserve any amounts that are required to be retained in the Fund to ensure the availability of amounts in the subsequent fiscal year for purposes authorized under subsection (a). Unobligated balances remaining pursuant to paragraph (4)(B) shall also be carried forward. (4) (A) After reserving any amount authorized by paragraph (3)(C), any unobligated balances remaining in the Fund on September 30, 1993, shall be deposited into the general fund of the Treasury of the United States. (B) After reserving any amount authorized by paragraph (3)(C) and after transferring any amount authorized by paragraph (3)(A), any unobligated balances remaining in the Fund on September 30, 1994, and on September 30 of each fiscal year thereafter, shall be available to the Secretary, without fiscal year limitation, for obligation or expenditure in connection with the law enforcement activities of any Federal agency or of a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization. (C) Any obligation or expenditure in excess of $500,000 with respect to an unobligated balance described in subparagraph (B) may not be made by the Secretary unless the Appropriations Committees of both Houses of Congress are notified at least 15 days in advance of such obligation or expenditure. **(g) Retention or Transfer of Property.—** (1) The Secretary may, with respect to any property forfeited under any law (other than section 7301 or 7302 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) enforced or administered by a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization— (A) retain any of the property for official use; or (B) transfer any of the property to— (i) any other Federal agency; or (ii) any State or local law enforcement agency that participated directly or indirectly in the seizure or forfeiture of the property. (2) The Secretary may transfer any forfeited personal property or the proceeds of the sale of any forfeited personal or real property to any foreign country which participated directly or indirectly in the seizure or forfeiture of the property, if such a transfer— (A) is one with which the Secretary of State has agreed; (B) is authorized in an international agreement between the United States and the foreign country; and (C) is made to a country which, if applicable, has been certified under section 481(h) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 ([22 U.S.C. 2291(h)](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title22-section2291/h&num=0&edition=prelim)).1 (3) Nothing in this section shall affect the authority of the Secretary under [section 981 of title 18](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section981&num=0&edition=prelim) or section 616 of the Tariff Act of 1930 ([19 U.S.C. 1616a](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title19-section1616a&num=0&edition=prelim)). **(h) Regulations.—** The Secretary may prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out this section. **(i) Customs Forfeiture Fund.—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law— (1) during any period when forfeited currency and proceeds from forfeitures under any law (other than section 7301 or 7302 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) enforced or administered by a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization, are required to be deposited in the Fund pursuant to this section— (A) all moneys required to be deposited in the Customs Forfeiture Fund pursuant to section 613A of the Tariff Act of 1930 ([19 U.S.C. 1613b](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title19-section1613b&num=0&edition=prelim)) shall instead be deposited in the Fund; and (B) no deposits or withdrawals may be made to or from the Customs Forfeiture Fund pursuant to section 613A of the Tariff Act of 1930 ([19 U.S.C. 1613b](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title19-section1613b&num=0&edition=prelim)); and (2) any funds in the Customs Forfeiture Fund and any obligations of the Customs Forfeiture Fund on the effective date of the Treasury Forfeiture Act of 1992, shall be transferred to the Fund and all administrative costs of such transfer shall be paid for out of the Fund. **(j) Limitation of Liability.—** The United States shall not be liable in any action relating to property transferred under this section or under section 616 of the Tariff Act of 1930 ([19 U.S.C. 1616a](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title19-section1616a&num=0&edition=prelim)) if such action is based on an act or omission occurring after the transfer. **(k) Authority To Warrant Title.—** Following the completion of procedures for the forfeiture of property pursuant to any law enforced or administered by a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization, the Secretary is authorized, at the Secretary’s discretion, to warrant clear title to any subsequent purchaser or transferee of such forfeited property. **(l) Forfeited Property.—** For purposes of this section and notwithstanding [section 524(c) of title 28](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title28-section524/c&num=0&edition=prelim) or any other law— (1) during fiscal year 1993, property and currency shall be deemed to be forfeited pursuant to a law enforced or administered by the United States Customs Service if it is forfeited pursuant to— (A) a judicial forfeiture proceeding when the underlying seizure was made by an officer of the United States Customs Service or the property was maintained by the United States Customs Service; or (B) a civil administrative forfeiture proceeding conducted by the United States Customs Service; and (2) after fiscal year 1993, property and currency shall be deemed to be forfeited pursuant to a law enforced or administered by a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization if it is forfeited pursuant to— (A) a judicial forfeiture proceeding when the underlying seizure was made by an officer of a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization or the property was maintained by a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization; or (B) a civil administrative forfeiture proceeding conducted by a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization. **(m) Transfers to Attorney General and Postmaster General.—** (1) The Secretary shall transfer from the Fund to the Attorney General for deposit in the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund amounts appropriate to reflect the degree of participation of participating Federal agencies in the law enforcement effort resulting in the forfeiture pursuant to laws enforced or administered by a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a “participating Federal agency” is an agency that participates in the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund. (2) The Secretary shall transfer from the Fund to the Postmaster General for deposit in the Postal Service Fund amounts appropriate to reflect the degree of participation of the United States Postal Service in the law enforcement effort resulting in the forfeiture pursuant to laws enforced or administered by a Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization. **(n) Definitions.—** For purposes of this section— (1) **Department of the treasury law enforcement organization.—** — The term “Department of the Treasury law enforcement organization” means the United States Coast Guard, the United States Customs Service, the United States Secret Service, the Tax and Trade Bureau, the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and any other law enforcement component of the Department of the Treasury so designated by the Secretary. (2) **Secretary.—** — The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Treasury.