DOJ's whistle-blower program nets big asset recovery returns

The Justice Department says it has recovered a record $2.5 billion in health care fraud over the past year — mostly with the help of drug company employees who blow the whistle to the federal government. The big-ticket settlements mostly came from Pfizer, AstraZenica and Novartis, pharmaceutical companies accused of questionable marketing practices or overbilling federal insurance programs. National Public Radio, 11/23/2010

• An Indianapolis law firm is suing 78 county prosecutors, claiming they routinely violate state law by holding on to seized assets instead of turning them over to a state school fund. The case, which was unsealed Friday in Marion Superior Court, seeks to tighten adherence to state forfeiture laws and repay two years' worth of money the firm thinks is owed to Indiana's Common School Fund. Indianapolis Star, 11/23/2010

• Police in western Australia have arrested hundreds of people, confiscated thousands in cash and frozen millions in assets since Operation Unification launched this month. The operation, which sees law enforcement agencies across Australia working together to catch illicit drug dealers, has uncovered four clandestine drug labs and seen more than 200 people arrested or summonsed. Perth Now, 11/22/2010

• Cases of suspected terror financing and crime related money went up by almost 400 percent in India's banking and monetary channels, keeping enforcement and intelligence agencies on their toes during the last financial year. More than 17,000 Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) were generated by the financial intelligence wing of the government with the maximum reports of such transactions being received and reported by the banking channels of the country. Hindu Business Line, 11/22/2010