The way it is portrayed here (I'm not sure if it is portrayed accurately), it is not constitutional. But civil forfeiture is definitely constitutional as long

The way it is portrayed here (I'm not sure if it is portrayed accurately), it is not constitutional. But civil forfeiture is definitely constitutional as long as you get due process. The NYTimes is wrong in stating you have the burden of proof in these cases, the government does. It's just not as high as a criminal case. The civil burden is the same that govern all sorts of property issues.