This is an outrageous statement.
There are special exceptions to the law, but the 4th Amendment of the Constitution explicitly protects citizens from illegal search and seizure.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Amendment_to_the_United_...
If you have money, you have some recourse - but if you're an average citizen, the police can with any sort of drug- or terrorism-related charge, even if you are acquitted or the charges are dropped, de facto steal your shit and not reimburse you at all.
It's 'unreasonable' and not 'illegal' by the way - and the latter would be even easier to get around, because you just legislate 'this is legal now', no semantic tricks required.
Yes, exactly. That is why so many outrageous search and seizure laws have been passed, thus making them legal.