This is theft. End of story.

A future government should prosecute every single police officer involved in civil forfeiture with organized theft while impersonating police officers. Every single one should get life sentences or execution.

No reasonable person could possibly think civil forfeiture is a reasonable, ethical, practice. Which is why lots of countries, and even some parts of the US, have banned the practice.

Yes, this will probably result in pretty much the entirety of the police force in some places being put behind bars. That's fine. Policing is a profession that attracts unethical people who should be permanently removed from society.