It's all a money game.
Its really not. I know its tough to believe, but most of them are either true believers or just willing to go along to get along. I think the drug war is an abomination, and i hate it, but it books a net loss for most jursidictions even with fines and seizures. On the fed level the DEA makes a little money because of asset seizure, but most of the time the dea is dealing with bigger fish.
They just need to onsell all of the seizures and they'd be rolling in it ( that's assuming most don't already sell on their ill gotten gains)