Levy If you have faced seizure of shipping packages during transit by private (FedEx or UPS) or federal government carrier (USPS), you must seek assistance from a dedicated attorney like Asset Forfeiture Attorney. As per the United States Postal Inspection Service, the first-class letters and packages are safeguarded against search and seizure under the fourth amendment to the constitution; and that is why such items are not allowed to be opened if there is no search warrant. Gadsden They do not generally consider the shipping package as "private" and have the right to open and inspect packages as their own discretion. If you are charged with a crime or being investigated for a crime, it is important to talk with a criminal defense attorney directly about the particular facts and circumstances of your case. Presentation strategies vary. The use of the Internet for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It is best not to contact any authority to inquire about the shipment status if it already shows that it was seized by law enforcement. If you are under investigation for either sending or receiving drugs or other contraband through the mail or a common carrier such as FedEx or UPS, then contact an experienced criminal defense attorney at Sammis Law Firm in Tampa, FL, to discuss your case. Law enforcement and police officers regularly seize money and other currency sent through shipment packages. If there is no response after 21 days, packages are declared abandoned and can be opened. – Find an article that discusses the number of people that attempt to get away with mailing cannabis through the United States Postal Service. An Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) prosecutes these cases in federal court. Adhering to the applicable laws and regulations can diminish the chance of future seizure or detention of goods by Customs. My experience has been,…if I drop a USPS at UPS by mistake…UPS will get it to USPS the same day usually even and tell me when I come in the next day even that I messed up…lol. Jefferson The unit's supervisor assigns a drug dog handler to meet with the inspector and present the package to the dog. Madison A warrant can be issued to the investigators by stating the probable cause of suspicion. Collier 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. Will USPS notify me if my package has been seized? Your attorney can successfully discredit K-9’s alert (sniff!) Shipping over 28 grams of pot is a bad idea. That letter might prevent the agent from coming to your home or place of business to interrogate you about the facts of the case. But I doubt anyone checks an envelope. Not that you have anything to hide, but whatever you say can be used as evidence against you in the court and only make things worse. Gulf 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. Although the United States Postal Inspector Service (USPIS) targets members of drug rings who use the mail to illegally traffic their product, they rarely catch those higher level players. 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. 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. Marion Once your shipping package is seized, you need to contact the law enforcement. These cases are investigated by agents with the U.S. Promotional Samples. 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. For example, we have found reasonable suspicion where the package smelled of marijuana, had a return address from a known drug distribution area, and had handwritten labels. Federal law provides for harsh penalties for mailing drugs. What happens when USPS finds drugs? Jackson Your attorney can write a letter to the agent explaining that you are represented by counsel. If you believe your shipping package was unlawfully seized or you want to file a lawsuit for getting seized packages back, contact us at 888-571-5590 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation without further delay. What happens if USPS finds drugs in a package? Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this website. It was sent to a small town to a PO Box. Postal Service or by a private carrier, such as UPS or FedEx.While the rules and regulations for what can be shipped are somewhat the same,it comes with some exceptions, like the private carriers like FedEx and UPS can ship ammunition, but it is not allowed by USPS. Don’t just wait for law enforcement officers to come to your home or office to interrogate you. Postal Inspection Service’s primary focus is to identify and pursue traffickers of all types of illicit substances (which includes marijuana obviously). While there is no clear way to challenge a K-9's sniff, the police expect you to take it at face value. Broward Orange 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. For prescription drugs, you may contact a dedicated lawyer to discuss if you can file a claim to get it back. so everything was going well, i was currently buying small amounts of 25i-nbome and i decided to switch things up and buy some molly. Go to the “Customer Support” section. Your attorney can explain the reason that you didn’t know that the drugs, marijuana, currency or other contraband were being shipped to your residence or place of business. Such a claim can be filed against an appropriate law enforcement agency. 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. Generally, law enforcement officers are trained to work with police K-9 dogs to detect prohibited or restricted contents at private third-party shipping facilities to identify suspicious packages containing drugs or explosives. Calhoun Many of these shipments are made with USPS first-class shipments. Martin For cases in Florida and the greater Tampa Bay areas, contact us to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss the case in our offices. Franklin The investigative team of your attorney will work to identify all the relevant witnesses, required shipping documentation, and other evidence to present a solid representation of your case. Okaloosa To legally mail controlled substances, the mailer and addressee must be registered with the DEA. Postal Service has its own special squad of postal inspectors and processes for checking packages. Most cases settle in this phase; others will resolve after reaching a trial procedure. By hiring an attorney, the attorney can prevent that kind of interrogation and represent you at every stage of the case. Remember, the police are not supposed to be your friend or help you in any possible way. 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. St. Johns fedex does have one large facility that has drug sniffing dogs in it, i dont think ups has such a facility. Since the USPS provides certain protections against the procedure of search and seizure, it is usually a safe and preferred choice for shipping drugs among those who send. Washington, I understand that submission of an online form does not constitute an attorney‑client relationship. That is down from nearly 38,000 pounds seized the year before. What happens when usps finds drugs reddit. The shipper is looking into it from his end. Not only should you know what is admissible, but you must also have the know-how of importing goods the right way. Wakulla The attorneys at Sammis Law Firm in Tampa, FL, often get calls from people concerned about getting arrested for mailing or receiving cannabis, narcotics, firearms, or other contraband through the United States Postal Service (USPS) or other couriers such as UPS and FedEx in Florida. If you … They want to file cases, seize illegally imported or exported goods, and arrest people. The agents might also be seeking information in order to obtain a search warrant to search your home or business looking for other evidence that can be used to prosecute you for serious offenses in state or federal court. Undeliverable as Addressed Mail. If you get caught mailing drugs through the U.S. mail postal service, then contact an experienced attorney. 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). If you are buying something from an online seller, you must add information such as the seller's name and address, the quantity of item shipped, the purchase price in U.S. dollars, weight, and country of origin. Hendry Sarasota Such fourth amendment prohibitions don’t necessarily attach to searches by private companies such as UPS and FedEx. Polk We can help you fight to decrease the chances that your rights are violated. Lee © 2013 - 2021 Sammis Law Firm P.A. Drugs and other contraband is frequently sent through the U.S. Mail or through a private shipping service such as UPS or FedEx. Find out what happens when the USPS finds drugs, marijuana, or cannabis. We will also send you periodic updates about the search. Similarly, K-9 dog alerts can be questioned by looking at other sources too. A thorough investigation to collect all the pieces of evidence in your favor can allow your attorney to build a solid defense and take the next legal step towards getting your seized package back. Bradford We are committed to helping our clients avoid an unjust prosecution at the federal or state level! Those changes make it more likely that USPS and other common couriers will be used to ship the contraband being purchased. The buyer often requests that the packages are sent to neighbors and unsuspecting friends, family, and co-workers. Just invoking your right to counsel prevents the officer from asking you any questions about the case. Brevard Lafayette What happens when USPS package is undeliverable? You will be directed to a new page. Doing so will most likely result in an investigation or arrest as it is illegal to ship drugs through any federal or private carriers. Don’t compound one mistake with another when the investigation begins. Your dedicated attorney will investigate different aspects of the claim to build a strong defense on your part. Sumter Also, being federal government employees, U.S. postal workers require a warrant based on probable cause in order to search a package for drugs. A special … Please note, sometimes we cannot find missing mail items. Its like they are bitter and trash it or something…I dont know what happens to it. I would strongly argue no, that alone is not probable cause. The notice might explain that an appeal can also be filed at the following internet address: https://uspsjoe.justware.com/JusticeWeb. What Is The Difference Between Asset Seizure And Asset Forfeiture? A seizure of a shipping package may be due to any of the following reasons: When goods or packages are shipped from any overseas country to the United States, they are referred to as “being imported." Postal Service at the address provided. Then, click on the “Start a Claim” button. Within the next few days, after the investigation begins, agents might try to track down the person living at the residence or using the P.O. The Postal Inspection Service typically runs drug-mail investigations, but sometimes the DEA or ATP provides resources. The USPS investigators also attempt to intercept illegal drug proceeds that traffickers attempt to send through the mail. Once the investigation team does a detailed investigation, your attorney can pin down every piece of evidence to build a case theory. Palm Beach The lawyers are well-versed in state and federals laws and have handled cases of recovering seized FedEx/UPS/USPS shipping packages. Instead, they stumble across less experienced shippers of contraband. by obtaining the legal bank statements, withdrawal receipts, and other evidence. (And they can't smell seeds or LSD.) Federal Law on Prohibited Mail Narcotics – Since controlled substance distribution is unlawful under 21 U.S.C. 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 … Arrests, however, are down. When we receive your Missing Mail search request, we will send you a confirmation email. Hamilton In FY 2016, Postal Service inspectors seized mail containing more than 37,000 pounds of illegal drugs and $23.5 million in suspected drug-trafficking proceeds nationwide. Firearms, Ammunition, and Explosives.Although all major shipping carriers, like FedEx, UPS, USPS has specific federal and state regulations that must be adhered to for shipping firearms, such packages are considered dangerous goods and sometimes seized to ensure a proper check. With advice from a dedicated attorney, you must file a claim for the preservation of rights against a seized USPS, UPS or FedEx package seized by police. Lentz Law Firm makes no warranties or guarantees of case outcomes. 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. Individuals who confess are much easier to prosecute than those who are likely to invoke their rights and hire an attorney. Here, the burden of proof is on you to prove that the shipping package is duty paid and comply with other rules and regulations. In FY 2008, which ended Sept. 30, the U.S. Do not rely on advertisements when choosing the best criminal defense attorney in Tampa, FL, for your case. Anything that is illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act is considered “unmailable”. Your attorney can also contact the investigating officer to explain your side of the story if you are innocent of any criminal conduct. Alachua 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 . Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Many of these investigations being with a call from an inspector with the law enforcement wing of the postal service. What Can The Government Seize in Asset Forfeiture? 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. Postal Service stopped it used to be legal to ship babies through the U. However, the USPS can get a warrant if it finds a package suspicious. During Fiscal Year 2018, Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners seized approximately 96,668 pounds of mailed narcotics and other drugs and obtained 1,624 convictions for narcotics-related crimes. Santa Rosa Shipping packages may be seized at the “port” if they have been illegally transported (not complying with all the rules and regulations) or their custom duties are paid incorrectly. In other cases, we represent the person accused of placing the package in the mail. In fact, the vast majority of these cases involve a person sending a small amount of cannabis or marijuana concentrate through the mail. 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