Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5802 (2026)

Controlled substances forfeiture.

✓ current as of May 2026

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§ 5802. Controlled substances forfeiture.

The following shall be subject to forfeiture to the Commonwealth and no property right shall exist in them:

(1) All drug paraphernalia, controlled substances or other drugs which have been manufactured, distributed, dispensed or acquired in violation of the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L.233, No.64), known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act.

(2) All raw materials, products and equipment of any kind which are used or intended for use in manufacturing, compounding, processing, delivering, importing or exporting any controlled substance or other drug in violation of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act.

(3) All property which is used or intended for use as a container for property described in paragraph (1) or (2).

(4) All conveyances, including aircraft, vehicles or vessels, which are used or are intended for use to transport, or in any manner to facilitate the transportation, sale, receipt, possession or concealment of property described in paragraph (1) or (2), except that:

(i) no bona fide security interest retained or acquired under 13 Pa.C.S. (relating to commercial code) by any merchant dealing in new or used aircraft, vehicles or vessels, or retained or acquired by any licensed or regulated finance company, bank or lending institution, or by any other business regularly engaged in the financing or lending on the security of such aircraft, vehicles or vessels, shall be subject to forfeiture or impairment; and

(ii) no conveyance shall be forfeited under this chapter for a violation of section 13(a)(31) of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act.

(5) All books, records and research, including formulas, microfilm, tapes and data, which are used or intended for use in violation of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act.

(6) (i) All of the following:

(A) Money, negotiable instruments, securities or other things of value furnished or intended to be furnished by any person in exchange for a controlled substance in violation of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, and all proceeds traceable to such an exchange.

(B) Money, negotiable instruments, securities or other things of value used or intended to be used to facilitate any violation of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act.

(C) Real property used or intended to be used to facilitate any violation of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act other than a violation of section 13(a)(16) or (31) of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, including structures or other improvements thereon, and including any right, title and interest in the whole or any lot or tract of land and any appurtenances or improvements, which is used or intended to be used in any manner or part to commit or to facilitate the commission of a violation of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, and things growing on, affixed to and found in the land.

(ii) The money and negotiable instruments found in close proximity to controlled substances possessed in violation of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act shall be rebuttably presumed to be proceeds derived from the selling of a controlled substance in violation of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act.

(iii) No valid lien or encumbrance on real property shall be subject to forfeiture or impairment under this paragraph. A lien which is fraudulent or intended to avoid forfeiture under this chapter shall be invalid.

(7) Any firearms, including, but not limited to, rifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers, machine guns, zip guns or any type of prohibited offensive weapon, as that term is defined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 6105 (relating to persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms), which are used or intended for use to facilitate a violation of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act. Firearms as are found in close proximity to illegally possessed controlled substances shall be rebuttably presumed to be used or intended for use to facilitate a violation of The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act. All weapons forfeited under this chapter shall be immediately destroyed by the receiving law enforcement agency.

Cross References. Section 5802 is referred to in section 5803 of this title.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 17 cases (12 in the last 5 years), 2017–2026 · leading case: Commonwealth, Aplt v. Irland, J (Semi-Auto Pistol), 193 A.3d 370 (Pa. 2018).

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Commonwealth, Aplt v. Irland, J (Semi-Auto Pistol), 193 A.3d 370 (Pa. 2018). “In this regard, OAG notes that, even with the adoption of a recent forfeiture statute, see Act of June 29, 2017, No.”

Com. of PA v. $4,020.00 Belonging to H. Dunlap ~ Appeal of: H. Dunlap (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2024). · cites it 4× “See 42 Pa.C.S. § 5802. In relevant part, the Forfeiture Act provides the following are subject to forfeiture: (A) Money .”

In Re: K.C., Appeal of: K.C. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2024). · cites it 3× “Forfeiture of assets is governed by 42 Pa.C.S. § 5802, which provides in pertinent part: The following shall be subject to forfeiture to the Commonwealth and no property right shall exist in them: .”

Com. of PA v. $2,669.50 Cash, U.S. Currency ~ Appeal of: J.H. Goode (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2026). · cites it 3× “See 42 Pa.C.S. § 5802. In relevant part, the Forfeiture Act provides the following are subject to forfeiture: (A) Money .”

Com. of PA v. $33,420.00 Cash, U.S. Currency ~ Appeal of: E. Torres (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2026). · cites it 3× “See 42 Pa.C.S. § 5802. The Forfeiture Act identifies, in relevant part, the following items subject to forfeiture: (A) Money .”

Com. v. $997.00 ex rel C. Woodard (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2017). · cites it 2× “§ 6801; Act 13, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5802(6)(i); Commonwealth v. Pena, 751 A.”

Comwlth of PA v. M.A. Green (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2018). · cites it 2× “42 Pa.C.S. § 5802. In a forfeiture case, the Commonwealth bears the burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that a nexus exists between the pertinent unlawful activity and the property subject to forfeiture.”

A.H. Cromley v. Bureau of Driver Licensing (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2025). · cites it 2× “” 42 Pa.C.S. § 5802. In Section 1611, the DOT “shall disqualify for life any [CDL holder] convicted of two or more 10 violations” of any of the provision’s enumerated offenses.”

Com. v. R. Teeter (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2017). “The provisions of former Section 6801 are now found at 42 Pa. C.S. §5802. 12 After the Commonwealth satisfies its initial burden, the property owner can assert an “innocent owner” defense under Section 6802(j) of the Forfeiture Act, 42 Pa.”

Com. v. Latimer, A. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020). “11 ____________________________________________ 9 See 42 Pa.C.S. § 5802(6)(ii) (“The money . . .”

Lancaster Cnty. D.A.'s Off. v. C. Walker ~ Appeal of: C. Walker (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2021). “” 42 Pa. C.S. §5802(6)(i)(A). The statute establishes the standards for a lawful seizure and forfeiture of private property used to advance an unlawful drug transaction and the procedures for effecting a lawful forfeiture.”

In re: 4714 Morann Ave., Houtzdale, Clearfield Cnty., PA ~ Appeal of: Com. of PA (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2023). “42 Pa. C.S. §5802(6)(i)(C) (emphasis added).”

Show all 17 citing cases →

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5802(6)(i) — 1 case

Com. v. $997.00 ex rel C. Woodard (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2017). “§ 6801; Act 13, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5802(6)(i); Commonwealth v. Pena, 751 A.”

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5802(6)(i)(A) — 4 cases

Com. of PA v. $4,020.00 Belonging to H. Dunlap ~ Appeal of: H. Dunlap (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2024). “See 42 Pa.C.S. § 5802. In relevant part, the Forfeiture Act provides the following are subject to forfeiture: (A) Money .”

Com. of PA v. $2,669.50 Cash, U.S. Currency ~ Appeal of: J.H. Goode (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2026). “See 42 Pa.C.S. § 5802. In relevant part, the Forfeiture Act provides the following are subject to forfeiture: (A) Money .”

Com. of PA v. $33,420.00 Cash, U.S. Currency ~ Appeal of: E. Torres (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2026). “See 42 Pa.C.S. § 5802. The Forfeiture Act identifies, in relevant part, the following items subject to forfeiture: (A) Money .”

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5802(6)(i)(B) — 1 case

In re: $300,000 in U.S. Currency ~ Appeal of: Z.X. Xu (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2024).

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5802(6)(i)(C) — 1 case

In re: 4714 Morann Ave., Houtzdale, Clearfield Cnty., PA ~ Appeal of: Com. of PA (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2023). “42 Pa. C.S. §5802(6)(i)(C) (emphasis added).”

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5802(6)(ii) — 6 cases

Comwlth of PA v. M.A. Green (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2018). “42 Pa.C.S. § 5802. In a forfeiture case, the Commonwealth bears the burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that a nexus exists between the pertinent unlawful activity and the property subject to forfeiture.”

Com. v. Latimer, A. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2020). “11 ____________________________________________ 9 See 42 Pa.C.S. § 5802(6)(ii) (“The money . . .”

In Re: K.C., Appeal of: K.C. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2024). “Forfeiture of assets is governed by 42 Pa.C.S. § 5802, which provides in pertinent part: The following shall be subject to forfeiture to the Commonwealth and no property right shall exist in them: .”

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5802(6)(iii) — 1 case

— 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5802(7) — 3 cases

Com. v. Grigger-Cross, D. (Pa. Super. Ct. 2024).

In Re: Smith, A.; Appeal of: Smith, A. (Pa. 2026).

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