Is it true that the USPS scans packages for drugs? Advertisement Once the package is 'seized', it may be examined by a drug dog, and a warrant will be issued to open the package should the dog alert for the presence of drugs (typically, the post office will line up 6 packages, five which they know do not contain drugs,Read More Why Do You Need Immediate Help with Sewer Leaks? Find out what happens when the USPS finds drugs, marijuana, or cannabis. Drugs and Medicines. Say you arent a member of a drug cartel; youre just an average citizen living in California, who wants to send their friend in a neighboring state a bag of weed gummies for their birthday. Specially trained inspectors from the United States Postal Inspection Service lead the charge in package inspection. Well first off, don't panic. 1005 N. Marion St. However, a box that is taped over every square inch tells an inspector that the sender may have been hiding something in the box he sent to you. ), Related: How Many People Are In Jail For Weed. You have entered an incorrect email address! What are characteristics of suspicious mail? Some postal systems do X-ray, but others do not. If the drugs are packaged unusually, there is a strong likelihood that USPS will discuss them. It does not store any personal data. Anyone caught mailing drugs should not make a statement to state or federal law enforcement officers given the task of investigating the crime. A drug must be sent to a pharmacy (or other permitted point) and then shipped to the recipient from there. Any individual shipping prescriptions will get charged with drug trafficking. Postal Inspection Service seizes nonmailable items including drugs, currency (cash or money), firearms, or other items. USPS requires a warrant based on probable cause to search a package for drugs. Learn more here. Basically, a controlled delivery is simply an undercover cop dressing up as a mailman, driving the mail truck to the address, and even delivering mail to neighbors to make the delivery seem more believable. You may be asked questions, and you may be asked for your name, nationality, and reason for being in the United States. While the Fourth Amendment protects First-Class mail from being read without a search, the consequences shipping forbidden materials is a crime are not worth the risk. Sign up to make sure you get your free consultation. Since the Postal Service was started, criminals have endeavoured to use it for malicious purposes. (all You Need To Know). (all You Need To Know), Does Meijer Drug Test? . The unit's supervisor assigns a drug dog handler to meet with the inspector and present the package to the dog. What happens when USPS finds drugs? According to Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm, PLC, a criminal defense law firm, these include: As packages are scanned on their journey to the destination, little blips like a name that doesnt match an address are suspicious. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Let us put our experience for federal seizures and forfeiture actions to work for you. Your attorney can write a letter to the agent explaining that you are represented by counsel. Unwitting non-criminal persons, on the other hand, may inadvertently send commodities that energy endanger others. And just like travelers have to go through customs, so do . It is considered to be private property belonging to the addressee. Mailpiece is leaking an unknown powdery substance. Promotional Samples. Postal inspectors have a powerful tool to seek out suspected drug traffickers, but a dog that has just smelled a drug in the mail, can be used to get a search warrant. Generally there is no reason for postal workers to look in your package. U.S. If you get caught mailing drugs through the U.S. mail postal service, then contact an experienced attorney. There is nothing special about drugs that need a prescription, with the exception of narcotics. UPS can "intercept" a package that they feel is suspicious. Find an article that discusses the number of people that attempt to get away with mailing cannabis through the United States Postal Service. If you were thinking about trying to send controlled substances through the USPS, I wouldnt roll the dice on your chances. I think maybe if I tried calling, it might have been more clear. However, a box that is taped over every square inch tells USPS inspectors that there may be a tell-tale odor inside that the sender wants to suppress. If you prefer, you may have your attorney present even if you have not been arrested or charged with a crime. What happens if USPS finds drugs in a package? In fact, the vast majority of these cases involve a person sending a small amount of cannabis or marijuana concentrate through the mail. Yes, you can send over-the-counter drugs through the mail. 7. A) I got a letter from the post office saying there's been a problem with my package. That said, its done in a fairly randomized way, so there is no way of knowing if your parcel is going to be up for scrutiny or not. USPS can "intercept" a package that they feel is suspicious. Such fourth amendment prohibitions dont necessarily attach to searches by private companies such as UPS and FedEx. What happens when USPS finds drugs in your packages? After you have done that, stop talking until your lawyer arrives. The package will also go through customs and scanners, but more on that, find out below in this article. We have the experience needed to ensure that your rights are protected. In other cases, we represent the person accused of placing the package in the mail. Drug sniffing dogs are incredibly important to seeking out drug traffickers, because USPS inspectors need "reasonable suspicion" to get a search warrant to actually open parcels. Just in time to track your stimulus check, the USPS released access to its tool called Informed Delivery. When you get caught mailing weed, the potential federal laws that you may break are: (i.e., FedEx can get considered as a co-conspirator if they get caught mailing weed. This is to avoid dangerous packages getting into government buildings. Does USPS scan packages for drugs? Dont forget that even if you X-Ray something, it still can be opened and the contents will still be discovered. Who is the birthday girl in the Skyrizi commercial? Each time the post office scans a letter in your name, it takes a picture of it. Its not necessary to have one when you are carrying out an act of civil disobedience. It is far more probable that USPS will identify your delivery as suspicious and move to X-Ray the box as soon as possible. Receiving illegal drugs through the mail is clearly a crime but only if there is proof it was done knowingly and intentionally, legal experts say. Depression When Did Wellbutrin Start Working For You? Do not rely on advertisements when choosing the best criminal defense attorney in Tampa, FL, for your case. But, they only X-ray packages going into the Washington, D.C. area. Your attorney can explain the reason that you didnt know that the drugs, marijuana, currency or other contraband were being shipped to your residence or place of business. What Happens When USPS Finds Drugs In 2023? We represent clients throughout the State of Florida in these kinds of cases. What Is Considered Viral On Tiktok, Facebook, Instagram And Twitter? You do not have to speak to anyone. You can choose instead to have an attorney present. These detectives are better capable of seeking illicit drugs, mail fraud, identity theft, money laundering, and cybercrime . In these investigations, the agent is calling to find out: The agent is also calling to find out whether it is a good use of resources to go to the persons home or business to gather additional information during a face to face meeting. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Except for promotional samples as described in 453.4 c, each mailpiece containing a mailable drug or medicine (that does not contain a controlled substance) must be held in a plain outer wrapper or packaging. In other words, ensure that your business is not sending its documents with USPS. You can get felony charges at the state level and federal levels for receiving drugs. After you fill out the form below, we will set up your free consultation. What happens if USPS finds drugs in a package? Armed with canines trained to sniff out drugs, local, state and federal authorities watch the mail for packages like Wrights as they come through the post office and carriers such as FedEx, UPS and DHL. CANNABIS 101 Mailing Cannabis Through the USPS? You have such easy access, so why not share? The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". To legally mail controlled substances, the mailer and addressee must be registered with the DEA. Narcotics are controlled substances, while other drugs do not need a prescription. Roughly 1.7 million packages a day are X-rayed, scanned and sniffed by dog teams. If youre thinking you should be scared, you are right. On April 3, 2014, Former Attorney General Eric Holder, explained the problem to the Senate Appropriations Committee: The postal servicethe mails arebeing used to facilitate drug dealing It is shocking to see the amount of drugs that get pumped into communities all around this country through our mail system, and we have to deal with that.. Only Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registered distributors can ship prescriptions. The penalty for mailing prescription drugs is very heavy. This means that without proper medical licensing you can receive prescription drugs, but you cannot, under any circumstance, mail them. According to a USPS brochure, reused packaging and boxes are only acceptable when all markings and labels are removed or completely marked out. UPS does not require a warrant to search a package for drugs. I want to talk to the attorney! 1 What happens if USPS finds drugs in a package? You can, however, send over-the-counter drugs through the mail anything that does not require a prescription. All international packages arriving to the United States are screened by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. You want to invest into your future. This technique is called a controlled delivery.. In FY 2016, there were 36,642 pounds of cannabis seized, a 6.3% increase. We help our clients avoid an unjust prosecution at the state or federal level. Individuals who readily answer questions over the phone are more likely to confess when confronted in person. The letter provides the reference number, the sender, and the recipient listed on the package. It generally takes a lot less weight for edibles to get felony charges at a state level. This will be your local law enforcement agency and the DEA (drug enforcement administration). According to the Due Process clause, which states: The citizens right to be reliable in their personnel, houses, paper works, and effects against search and seizure shall not be overlooked, and no law shall issue unless supported by adequate evidence, supported by affidavits, and specifically explaining its place to be tried to search and the participants or aspects to be seized. Crunching the numbers, the Postal Service faces an enormous task in preventing the trafficking of illicit substances. If drugs are found, a "controlled delivery" of the package will be conducted by undercover officers.Basically, a controlled delivery is simply an undercover cop dressing up as a mailman, driving the mail truck to the address, and even delivering mail to neighbors to make the delivery seem more believable. If you mail alcohol, there is no guarantee that USPS will notice, but there is also no guarantee that youd get away with that. In FY 2016, Postal Service inspectors seized mailcontaining more than 37,000 pounds of illegal drugs and $23.5 million in suspected drug-trafficking proceeds nationwide. Office: 813.250.0500 USPS can intercept a package that they feel is suspicious. Manage Settings (all You Need To Know), Does Costco Sell Plan B? Can You Write Do Not X-Ray On Your USPS Package? Even if you are just sending vapes as a gift to someone else, you can receive a felony charge, and even if youre having a simple misunderstanding, you can both get arrested, and have to turn down any plea deal. Feds use dogs to sniff out drugs in mail packages. We run out of free consultations every month. This is commonly charged in U.S. District Court (Federal court). You really cant tell, Sending weed in the mail gets you drug trafficking charges. The report found several reasons, a.k.a . It is not legal advice. This is to reduce the risk of the prescription being altered by the person filling them. Is Mail X-Rayed? When the United States Postal Service has reason to suspect a mailed drug package, they will seize the parcel and obtain a warrant to open it as of 2023. Most of the packages have until the 18th to reach destination, but it never takes that long. So a package that already looks a little off, topped off by a handwritten label, just screams This is not legit! So, if you tried to send a box of prescription drugs via Priority Mail, and someone heard them rattling around in their bottles, USPS could . What happens if USPS finds drugs in a package? Postal Service (USPS) aren't adhering to internal shipping guidelines after discovering illegal marijuana packages in the mail, and seized cannabis is being lostor stolenin the shuffle. Also, What makes a package suspicious USPS? Drug trafficking can happen in a variety of ways. Mailpiece is leaking an unknown powdery substance. Each facility routes the package to the next facility based on the address and ZIP code on the package. If Option A or B Happened, and the USPS merely sent you a letter because you mailed some marijuana chalk it up as a loss and do a better job packaging your marijuana. Marques Thomas graduated with a MBA in 2011. 8. Some of the more common controlled substances mailed through the United States Post Office include the following items: If you look only at marijuana seized in pounds each fiscal year by the US Postal Inspection Service, the following statistics have been released: In FY 2001, Postal Inspectors arrested 1,662 individuals for drug trafficking and money laundering via the U.S. Mail. To be able to inspect a package, a postal worker or inspector must usually obtain a search warrant based on a reasonable suspicion that the package contains something illegal. Because, you are a felon, and your friend is also a felon, and there are certain laws against having drug trafficking in the home. 1716. How to choose a moving company when moving? Red Law is a full service marijuana litigation law firm located in Denver, Colorado. State police used a drug-sniffing dog on May 4, and the dog "positively alerted" on the packages, the complaint said. The only way to avoid being scanned by USPS is to hand-deliver your box to the recipients front door. If you want the best criminal defense attorneys to represent you, fill out the form below. do they need search warrants to bust you? (Price, Who Can Buy + More), How To Delete A Usps Account? These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Then, they will physically and visually scan them. After the marijuana is received, other participants will then distribute the marijuana to local customers and deposit the proceeds into a bank account through businesses that front for money laundering organizations. Everyone believes that they are the best at hiding the smell of weed. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this website. This website is for informational purposes only. The answer is a resounding no. Your attorney can also contact the investigating officer to explain your side of the story if you are innocent of any criminal conduct. Postal inspectors in Florida and throughout the United States investigate the shipment of illegal drugs, firearms, and other forms of contraband through the U.S. The letter will often invite the sender or therecipient to contact the manager of the Criminal Investigations Service Center if: The letter also tells you how to appeal the determination that the contents of the mail are non-mailable by filing a written appeal with the Recorder of the Judicial Officer Department of the U.S. Is the USPS going to scan parcels in 2022? One way that a dog can tell that a box does not contain drugs is if it is lined up with six boxes and only two of the boxes have drugs in them. Law enforcement will bring drug dogs to determine if USPS found drugs in a package. 801971, then the mailing of any controlled substance through the U.S. How is Spellcasting ability 5e dnd calculated. Infographic : Using Cognitive Functions To Unlock the ENFP Personality Types Unique Gifts , Advertising Infographics : Digital Marketing Solution Social Media Post Template, Advertising Infographics : Google Adwords: Is It Burning Up Your Budget? An Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) prosecutes these cases in federal court. In some cases, the criminal organization will pay people to receive mailed packages containing marijuana or other contraband. TalkRadioNews is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Can You Ship Medicine Through Usps? Drug sniffing dogs are incredibly important to seeking out drug traffickers, because USPS inspectors need reasonable suspicion to get a search warrant to actually open parcels. Whether you send drugs or another banned substance through the U.S. postal system or a private carrier, it is always illegal. The mission of the Inspection Service is protecting the American people and the U.S. Mail from illicit drug activity. Imagine if individuals were exporting burdened weapons or cases of poorly packed glass coffee cups daily. Forensic Laboratory Services of the USPIS The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) uses forensic scientists and technical specialists at the National Forensic Laboratory in Dulles, VA, to identify, apprehend, prosecute, and convict individuals responsible for postal-related criminal offenses. You can get in trouble if someone mails you drugs if: If someone mails you drugs and a law enforcement agency finds it, they will either: The penalty for receiving drugs in the mail is drug trafficking charges. Drug traffickers like express mail because it enables them to track the location of the package. No. Prescription drugs are not allowed to be shipped via regular mail. In fact, it is against the law to send any type of illegal drug, whether that is marijuana, heroin or even a prescription drug for which you have a valid prescription. Registered Mail is the most secure way to send a package through the USPS. So what do you do? Once the postal inspector receives the suspected mail, they will attempt to contact the sender or recipient and if unsuccessful, Scan it for Seized. Everything from useless to very accurate. The reality is, Informed Delivery is typically 1-2 days delayed and not all items that are scanned have a preview image coming up for it. Find the answer to frequently asked questions including: Does the USPS scan packages for drugs and Can you get in trouble if someone mails me drugs?. Yes, you can get in trouble if someone mails you drugs. The irradiation process does not create any harmful radiation. Just invoking your right to counsel prevents the officer from asking you any questions about the case. Most likely, something was off with your package and they have set it aside. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Yes, even if you have an honest prescription for such drugs or pain relievers, you need the necessary license to ship. The sender and receiver can face fines or even jail time if they are found guilty. And both federal and state laws will apply to your drug trafficking charges. Both shipping companies demand more registration to send alcohol, and theyll do so. Fill out the form above for your FREE consultation. What Should You Do If Youre Caught Mailing Drugs? New weapon in fight against opioid epidemic; Matt Finn reports from Chicago. There is likely an ongoing criminal investigation. This means that if USPS finds weed in the mail, they cant just open your package. A package can be sent to anywhere in the world you dont know who its sent to. The Law Office of John Guidry writes that one way inspectors can have reasonable suspicion is to line up six boxes: the one that looks shady, plus five that do not contain any drugs. The mail is also checked by drug-sniffing dogs or X-ray machines. Federal law provides for harsh penalties for mailing drugs. Is it Safe to Eat a Turkey Frozen For 2-3 Years? If they deem does not meet mailability standards, they will either: Lets say that your package has been seized by law enforcement. In more serious cases, the investigation begins with a knock on the door. In this case, you need to have your defense attorney: If a drug package was seized by law enforcement, fill out the form on this page. So while you may not be able to see each step of the delivery process as long as the item is addressed and has postage you will get the package. Lets say that you were not mailing illegal substances. You have the right to remain silent under the 5th amendment and the right to the assistance of counsel under the 6th amendment. 2. When you suspect a package is lost, wait it out a maximum of seven days beyond the day of expected delivery When USPS finds drugs in a package that they are found guilty below in this browser for next... State or federal level officers given the task of investigating the crime sniffed by dog teams to... The post office scans a letter from the post office scans a in... Any circumstance, mail them provides for harsh penalties for mailing drugs through the United States Inspection... Probable cause to search a package is lost, wait it out a maximum of seven beyond! Away with mailing cannabis through the USPS in Jail for weed need to Know ) does! 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