If USPS notifies you that your package has been seized by law enforcement, you have to understand there is really nothing you can do. In fact, the U.S. Postal inspectors are federal law enforcement officers responsible for enforcing laws that defend the nations mail system from illegal or dangerous use. Caught Sending or Receiving Drugs Through Mail - Pumphrey Law USPS Mail Seizure - Institute for Justice Use a counterfeit stamp and your letter will be confiscated and not reach its destination, the USPS said. At webnews21, we bring the trendy news of the globe regarding politics, entertainment, education, food, and health. . It does not store any personal data. Being a federal government agency, it must obey federal guidelines. The reason for sending cash through an insured parcel can be many; however, police will mostly stick to their convenient belief that it is secretly sent for or to assist criminal activity. Tech entrepreneur and founder of Tech Medic, who has become a prominent advocate for the Right to Repair movement. Strange But True: A Free Loan From Social Security? I received a letter from the USPS criminal investigations service center which indicates an item placed in the mail stream is currently being withheld from delivery as there are . The mail that is sent through the USPS will go through an X-Ray machine. Some mailing is forbidden and comes in the circle of the criminal. The Postal Inspection Service had [redacted] ANP sites to process suspected packages from the western U.S. During July 2018, the Postal Inspection Service established the [redacted] to serve as a central processing location for the mailing of suspected marijuana packages from areas without an ANP site. I recommend him to anyone needing these services. Chat us for guest posts and personalized ads. 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. Are Stick Fight, Terraria, Uno, Warframe, Unturned, and The Forest cross-platform games? 2.) Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help. Its from the investigating dept. Suppose he commits a crime; he must go to prison due to his crimes. The case should have been forwarded to the supervisor by the Customs and Border Protection officer. 881. If the later is the case, your item will be released after proper investigation. 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. Copyright 2023 by United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Statement, Reasonable Accommodation Written Procedures. If your package is seized, thenUSPS will automatically update the shipping statusto seized by law enforcement.. Some are given below. This will eventually lead to a court trial where the Customs department has to prove the seizure was lawful. Can the Police Legitimately Search My Vehicle Without a Warrant? The parcels are under the custody of the law enforcement institutes until all the matters are settled. This determination is important as there are specific rules to follow depending on who will handle the seizure process. What happens when USPS tracking is seized by law enforcement? She has testified before the US Federal Trade Commission and been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, helping influence change within the tech industry. Controlled Substances like Weed, Cocaine, or Prescription Drugs. 19 U.S.C. "A substantial discount means the stamps are likely counterfeit," Avery says. Also, being federal government employees, U.S. postal workers require a warrant based on probable cause in order to search a package for drugs. Another justification explained that the packages were taped or glued on all seams. But, again, secure packaging is not reasonable suspicion. If you arent under investigation, then DHL is usually free to tell you what happened and help you find a path to resolution. Even a pair of shoes could be seized in this manner. An item with a postmark that doesnt match the return address or that has too much postage. I received a letter from the USPS criminal investigations service center which indicates an item placed in the mail stream is currently being withheld from delivery as there are reasonable grounds to . We do all this because of our fundamental belief that following the Constitution means being held accountable for violating it. The attorneys at the firm have been helping clients recover seized assets and forfeited property for both criminal and civil lawsuits. Based on available tracking data for 191 of them, postal inspectors did not use [redacted] suggested mailing methods for 188 packages. makes no warranties or guarantees of case outcomes. It is a wise move to have an experienced defense attorney by your side so that you dont speak anything incriminating and later used against you by law enforcement. Ren is not one to take an assault on his constitutional rights lying down. To investigate international mail is a very delicate issue. There may be defense strategies to challenge the package seizure and protect it from losing it forever.Never talk to the police or any investigator in the absence of an attorney! [Redacted] display [redacted] on the mailing label address, both of which increase the risk of theft by postal employees processing this mail. Unlike in criminal investigations, the ANP program does not require postal inspectors to obtain search warrants to open detained packages. This cast a pall of suspicion over Ren and Movement Ink. When identified as non-mailable items, their contents are seized and disposed and mailable items are returned to the original addressees. Could you be in trouble???? The lack of information is what suggests the package has been seized. They do not generally consider the shipping package as "private" and have the right to open and inspect packages as their own discretion. What to Do When Your Packages are Seized Before They Arrive at Your It is not safe to steal postal property. Ill get into the specifics in a bit, but the idea is that law enforcement has the power to take packages. Why You Should Always Ship Hemp 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. 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. United States Postal Service law enforcement agencies, Inquiries of the United States Postal Inspection Service, These crimes are prevalent in the mail system. Before I could change my address after having had arrived in california a letter about a criminal investigation on the fake name reached my old address in north Carolina. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. What Can The Government Seize in Asset Forfeiture? 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. The thing to understand is that not all packages that are seized represent criminal activity. Senior Paralegal and Office Manager (FL Office). Why? The USISP must investigate these crimes and then take every possible step to cease these crimes. Our efforts include direct lawsuits against government officials at all stages of litigation (such as our cases on behalf ofSylvia Gonzalez,Erma Wilson,Cassi Pollreis,Hamdi Mohamud, andKevin Byrd), appellate briefs in support of individuals who have suffered at the hands of government officials, and outreach to members of the public who want to know more about the difficulties of suing governments and their employees for violating individual rights. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. First, the internal postal system notes documenting the seizures indicate that the officials inexplicably claimed that the packages were sent from Eurekaa city 275 miles north of Oakland, in a region informally known as the Emerald Triangle because it is the largest cannabis-producing region in the country. With other carriers, it is more likely that you will receive a message requesting that you contact the carrier. When Ren and his clients checked the tracking numbers, they were greeted by a cryptic and disturbing message: Alert, Seized by Law Enforcement.. Fake postage can stick consumers with headaches, USPS says Law enforcement will instruct FedEx as to what they can say and how they can say it. If there is no response after 21 days, packages are declared abandoned and can be opened. Usps seized a package : r/Marijuana - Reddit We also represent criminal defendants accused in federal and state courts related to marijuana and other substance abuse charges. Why would law enforcement want to take your box? The third is that the contents of the package are deemed to be suspicious or harmful. As a result of this unconstitutional conduct, the masks arrived at their destinations multiple days (and several protests) late. This can happen for a lot of reasons and end in a lot of different ways. In such cases, importers of banned or illegal goods may be arrested and imprisoned from being involved in shipping such items. When [redacted] personnel are not adhering to Registered Mail requirements, it could contribute to the loss or theft of packages suspected of containing illicit drugs. These, Everything You Need To Know About Types of Traffic Violations, Highest paying law firms in California, USA, in 2022, Steps of the Law enforcement agencies if USPS tracking is seized, These agencies have full authority to take action against criminals. On June 3, 2020, Ren packaged a second batch of masks in neat, nondescript, cleanly taped brown boxesboxes no different than those from Amazon or Target, and no different from a first batch he shipped without incident just days before. A person has 35 days from the day the notice of seizure is mailed to deliver their claim to the federal agency that seized it. 11 SEIZED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT The item is in the possession of a law enforcement agency. This subreddit is not affiliated with or endorsed by the United States Postal Service. by obtaining the legal bank statements, withdrawal receipts, and other evidence. This team also inspects the attacks and murders against postal employees. Possession and recreational use of marijuana is legal in many states in the U.S., but it is still federally illegal. One of the most common reasons USPS tracking information hasnt been updated is because the weather has slowed down the delivery process, blocking your mail or package from moving further along the infrastructure until it gets to its ultimate destination. It is possible to file a claim against the law enforcement agency. IJ provides principled advocacy and issue-area expertise to support legislation that expands individual liberty and protects vital constitutional rights. IJs tax ID number is 52-1744337. Opportunities exist for the Postal Inspection Service to enhance management of the ANP program. Suppose a drug is present in packages and has some smell that suspects them; something is wrong. The USPS inspector general is the federal law enforcement agency protecting the mailing service from scammers and cheaters. Lets start by fleshing out package seizure. One of the most common issues is that your package was not scanned in the way that it was supposed to be. What should I do? Domestic mailings with barcode services can be eligible for package intercept. The second is that the package contents are linked to criminal activity or some kind of investigation. Permitless carry bill will only reap senseless bloodshed | Hilton Head We serve clients throughout California and nationwide facing asset forfeiture. In the end, I got the best case scenario--I received all my funds back which I definitely did not expect. 5,083 pounds of synthetic opioids seized by the Inspection Service between FY 2018 and FY 2022 . Adhering to the applicable laws and regulations can diminish the chance of future seizure or detention of goods by Customs. You have to file a claim for the preservation of rights against a seized package if you get advice from an attorney. If you're worried about your Fourth Amendment rights to your mail, an experienced criminal defense attorney can answer any specific concerns you may have. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Ren, his family, employees, and friends worked night and day to hand-print each mask with political messages like Stop Killing Black People. When they finished, Ren packed the masks in ordinary brown boxes and shipped them overnight to organizers in Brooklyn, D.C., Minneapolis, and St. Louis. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This is more likely to happen at customs than anywhere else, but the idea is pretty easy to follow. NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK 23-USP-000581: $26,430.00 U.S. Currency, seized by the USPIS on January 17, 2023 from Nicole Nigro in Troy, NY for forfeiture pursuant to 21 U.S.C. Do the Police Have the Right to Tap My Telephone? No, the specific meaning of this term is that law enforcement has taken custody of the package. Since the U.S. Get the latest on IJs cases and activities. If the K-9 show alert signs for the package, the police, in order to seize the package, may claim that the cash package must have been stored near large amounts of drugs for a reasonably long period. The letter explained that the packages were seized and searched solely because the external physical characteristics of the parcels were consistent with parcels in other non-related instances that were confirmed to contain nonmailable matter, specifically controlled substances. In other words, USPS said that it was justified in seizing and opening plain brown boxes simply because they resembled packages that in the past contained drugs. However, the exterior of each letter or package is not. USPS Package Intercept will prevent delivery to the addressee if the item doesnt show up for delivery. by Matthew Buck - Red Law LLC | Dec 14, 2019 | News Article |, A frequent question that I am asked is some variation of I was sending marijuana/shatter/oil/drugs through the mail and, A) I got a letter from the post office saying theres been a problem with my package, B) The guy I sent drugs to didnt get the marijuana I sent, C) I got a call from the USPS telling me to call them about a package I sent, and it was my marijuana. His congressional representative, Barbara Lee, submitted an official inquiry to USPS, expressing concerns over the seizures. The mail carrier knows that there is something in the box. In addition, packages containing marijuana emit a strong odor and can be easily detected [redacted]. Ren and Movement Ink stayed in business because of a sudden spike for a new, hard-to-find product: screen-printed Covid-protective face masks. What happens if a package gets seized by customs? Seized Shipping Packages (FedEx, UPS, USPS) Asset Forfeiture Attorney is a highly rated asset seizure and forfeiture defense law firm that serves clients in the state of California and nationwide. Copyright 2023, Thomson Reuters. The employees are well qualified and experienced. Keep in mind that postal workers or private mail carriers may open suspicious packages if they suspect illegality. Seizures of Cash by U.S. Postal Inspectors - Sammis Law Firm code or county). All employees on this sub are here of their own volition to talk to and interact with other employees and customers. The USPS workers partner with the state and local drug task forces to perform their drug parcel investigations. The event will display USPS in possession of item if the item was scanned in the office. Postal workers can be alert to a suspicious package, which can result in them being targeted. Is military action that defies international law sometimes justified? The authorities have to have reason to believe that the package contains something harmful. It is not marked as damaged (although the contents can be damaged by the seizure process). It is advisable to immediately seek legal advice if you think that your package has been seized illegally or if you have received a notice of seizure by the Fines, Penalties and Forfeitures (FP&F) office.Typically, a seizure notice is forwarded to the alleged violator and contains information about what and where the cargo was seized in addition to the legal basis for the seizure. This organization is the oldest firm to support and protect the U.S postal service. Whether your case reaches a settlement or proceeds to trial may depend on the collected evidence and your decisions as a defendant. I then moved back to California. Received letter from usps about seized package. - Avvo Postal inspectors are federal law enforcement officers responsible for enforcing laws that defend the nation's mail system from illegal or dangerous use. It is continuously updated until the receiver receives the mail. It was an ounce, an 1/8th and a gram vape cartridge. About Us Red Law is a full service marijuana litigation law firm located in Denver, Colorado. These exceptions are limited, but a ricin threat in the mail system might justify searching your mail. Most everybody connected with that package will likely have warrants out for their arrest. Will I get in trouble if my package is seized? is related to this. We fight for our clients at every level of the legal system, and weve been to the U.S. Supreme Court 10 times to date. We also represent criminal defendants accused in federal and state courts related to marijuana and other substance abuse charges. He knew face masks were not illegal; in fact, at the time, they were required by law. DHL is subject to the same rules as UPS and FedEx, but DHL internal policy is a little different.

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