Holy cow, "problematic" is an understatement. So the airline employee gives a list of people who don't have enough time to assert their rights, the DEA confiscated any cash they found, and then gave what sounds like a kickback.

1. The data breach of personal information from the airline to the DEA.

2. The DEA performing any search at all. I can't imagine a world in which "Booked a flight on short notice" should be considered probable cause.

3. The DEA confiscating money. The unconstitutionality of civil forfeiture has been well discussed.

4. The DEA paying for the ongoing data breach. With payments "over several years", that isn't just a finder's fee, that's an ongoing business relationship.

Egads.