Arrests, however, are down. Then, click on the “Start a Claim” button. [Redacted]. The private carriers, like UPS, FedEx, and DHL, are not federal government agencies and generally do not need a search warrant if they deem the package suspicious.The supreme court states that shipping packages through a third-party private carrier eliminate any reasonable expectation of privacy. Such strict adherence to statutory requirements stresses the importance of going forward with an experienced asset forfeiture defense attorney to your side. Office: 813.250.0500 Shipping over 28 grams of pot is a bad idea. The buyer often requests that the packages are sent to neighbors and unsuspecting friends, family, and co-workers. When packages suspected of containing illicit drugs are lost or stolen, there is an increased risk that those drugs could be illegally distributed or used. Orange In Federal courts, the burden of proof on the government is relatively low, but they still must prove the seized shipping package is proceeds of a crime, evidence of an offense, contraband, or properties used in criminal activity. Call your Consumer Affairs representative via 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777) and they can complete a search request on your behalf, OR.28 Aug 2019 . Law enforcement forfeits cash and currency equivalent to millions and millions of dollars every year. In more serious cases, the investigation begins with a knock on the door. The general packaging requirements in DMM 601.1-7 also apply. Collier Putnam Many of these investigations begin with a letter or phone call. The purpose of the letter is to inform the intended recipient that an item placed in the U.S. Present Package to Drug Dog Upon discovery of a suspicious package, postal inspectors notify the Omaha Police Narcotics Unit. If we find your package or mail, we will send it to the address you provided. Postal Service has its own special squad of postal inspectors and processes for checking packages. If you believe that U.S. Customs & Border Protection has no legal right to seize your shipping items or should not have been seized, you may challenge a seizure through an administration petition with the Customs, within 30 days of receiving the seizure notice. In fact, the vast majority of these cases involve a person sending a small amount of cannabis or marijuana concentrate through the mail. Lentz Law Firm makes no warranties or guarantees of case outcomes. Whether you are the importer or the exporter of goods that have been seized, our team of attorneys is well-versed to prepare solid defenses and provide successful representation in matters related to the seizure of shipping packages. The UPS List of Prohibited Articles and Items – Visit the UPS website to find a list of articles and items which are prohibited for shipping to the United States and all counties served by UPS including currency, bank bills, cash and marijuana (even for medicinal use). They do not generally consider the shipping package as "private" and have the right to open and inspect packages as their own discretion. The best way to approach this is to seek legal help and proceed step by step in order to reclaim your seized packages. By hiring an attorney, the attorney can prevent that kind of interrogation and represent you at every stage of the case. Manatee The burden in Federal court is by a “preponderance of the evidence” (51 percent or more) meaning the judges should believe that the existence of a fact is more probable than its nonexistence. If they’re trying to find the package at their local post office, provide them with any shipping documentation you may have to help them locate the item. *. Brevard Palm Beach Jefferson Don’t compound one mistake with another when the investigation begins. There are two types of possession constructive and actual. they turn it over the police. In addition, when suspect packages which contain legitimate mailable items are sent to the [redacted] and are lost, this could impact the Postal Service’s brand reputation. – Find an article that discusses the number of people that attempt to get away with mailing cannabis through the United States Postal Service. Dixie they wish to make arrangements for the sender to retrieve the mail piece. Packages that may face seizure during shipment using service provides like Fed/Ex, UPS, USPS by the law enforcement include: Cash and Currency. Such a claim can be filed against an appropriate law enforcement agency. Find out what happens when the USPS finds drugs, marijuana, or cannabis. Being a federal government agency, it must obey federal guidelines. Taylor The agents can also investigate the payment methods used to ship the items. What happens when USPS finds drugs? Liberty 2.3 How long does FedEx take to find a lost package? Okaloosa The shipper is looking into it from his end. These cases are often, in my opinion, nothing more than theft on the part of the government - with no legal right to have ever seized the package in the first place. Leon USPS actively encourages workers and the public to get involved in the identification of packages containing drugs by offering $50,000 to anyone … 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?”. Baker Drugs and Medicines. The Postal Inspection Service typically runs drug-mail investigations, but sometimes the DEA or ATP provides resources. 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. Last week, the U.S. House passed an ambitious package to combat the drug epidemic plaguing America, blamed for 42,000 deaths in 2016. Asset Forfeiture Attorney1200 Wilshire Blvd Suite 406Los Angeles, CA 90017888-571-5590, Asset Forfeiture Attorney1055 Wilshire Blvd Suite 1996A Los Angeles, CA 90017(DO NOT SEND MAIL HERE), Asset Forfeiture Attorney | 1055 Wilshire Blvd Suite 1996A Los Angeles, CA 90017 | 888-571-5590, This website is designed for general information only. Number of cannabis packages seized … Lafayette St. Johns Units of the Forensic Laboratory Services include the Questioned Documents Unit, The Fingerprint Unit, and the Physical Sciences Unit. In addition, when suspect packages which contain legitimate mailable items are sent to the [redacted] and are lost, this could impact the Postal Service’s brand reputation. That is down from nearly 38,000 pounds seized the year before. Our asset forfeiture attorneys are adept with the skills and knowledge required to defend your property seizure and fight back against unfair seizure cases in California and Nationwide. The appeal is governed by the Rules of Practice in Proceedings Relative to Mailability found in Title 39, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 953. What happens if USPS finds drugs in a package? they do not understand the reason the letter is being sent to them; they wish to discuss the matter and provide evidence that the mail does not contain non-mailable items; or. Bay CANNABIS 101 – Mailing Cannabis Through the USPS? If you have gone through a seizure process, you must learn from the ordeal and make sure that all your future cargo shipments are compliant with all the relevant laws and regulations based on the product being shipped,ahead of importing to the United States. Controlled Substances like Weed, Cocaine, or Prescription Drugs. 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 person’s home or business to gather additional information during a face to face meeting. However, the USPS can get a warrant if it finds a package suspicious. USPS delivered to a roadside lockbock a couple blocks away, rather than the one for the buyer. Calhoun Federal Law on Prohibited Mail Narcotics – Since controlled substance distribution is unlawful under 21 U.S.C. Bradford Many of our clients are completely innocent and need an attorney to explain their side of the story after someone tries to mail them drugs. St. Lucie Jackson Forensic Laboratory Services of the USPIS. We help our clients avoid an unjust prosecution at the state or federal level. In FY 2008, which ended Sept. 30, the U.S. When a package needs to be shipped or transported within the United States, it should be carried out either through the U.S. Inspectors seized illegal assets valued at approximately $25 million. Wakulla The packages are often shipped with fictitious sender and receiver names in a way that requires no signature for delivery. The legal processes of asset seizure can be both confusing and complicated, and you may end up compromising your rights without having an experienced asset forfeiture attorney by your side. Postal Inspection Service’s narcotics program is intended to protect U.S. Your attorney can also contact the investigating officer to explain your side of the story if you are innocent of any criminal conduct. With available evidence in hand, your attorney will engage in settlement negotiations with the government. To legally mail controlled substances, the mailer and addressee must be registered with the DEA. If you got a letter in the mail from USPS Criminal Investigation, then give us a call to discuss the case BEFORE you call the 1-800 number or talk with an investigator. These agents want to question you BEFORE you have a chance to seek out a criminal defense attorney who can help you protect your right to remain silent. They do have drug sniffing dogs, but there's obviously not one in each post office. Gadsden The letter is sometimes sent to the sender or recipient when other attempts to contact them to obtain additional information were unsuccessful. In FY 2013, the U.S. Although California is a pot-legal state, it is a felony under 18 U.S. Code 1716 to mail weed using the United States Postal Service even within the territorial limits of California. For personalized representation, contact us today! Venders work hard to make the items in these packages look innocuous. It is a wise move to have an experienced defense attorney by your side so that you don’t speak anything incriminating and later used against you by law enforcement. An Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) prosecutes these cases in federal court. We understand the rules that govern how the U.S. 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. The USPS takes a very vigilant, proactive stance on eliminating drug trafficking in the US mail system and guarantees the U.S. In both California and Federal courts, you have the right to demand a jury trial to resolve your shipping package seizure case. Many of these investigations being with a call from an inspector with the law enforcement wing of the postal service. The shipper is looking into it from his end. Flagler Volusia We initiated this audit to address allegations regarding postal employees’ handling of packages suspected of containing marijuana at seven post offices in the Capital Metro, Great … Long story short, I had one package actually come thru but the other one was not so fortunate. Your attorney can successfully discredit K-9’s alert (sniff!) Postal Inspection Service’s primary focus is to identify and pursue traffickers of all types of illicit substances (which includes marijuana obviously). Let us put our experience for federal seizures and forfeiture actions to work for you. Forfeiture actions to work for you to trial may depend on the.., click on the collected evidence and your decisions as a marketing tool way... 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