What makes a USPS package suspicious?

Items of unusual weight relative to their size, or that are lopsided or oddly shaped. Items which are sealed with excessive amounts of tape. An item containing a postmark which does not match the return address or bears an excessive amount of postage. Mailpiece is leaking an unknown powdery substance.

How does a USPS package get flagged?

Mail may be flagged if the letter or package is stained or is leaking. According to a USPS brochure, reused packaging and boxes are only acceptable when all markings and labels are removed or completely marked out.

What are 3 examples of a suspicious package?

What constitutes a suspicious package?

Suspicious packages or articles might have protruding wires, aluminum foil or oil stains visible, and might emit a peculiar odor. Suspicious packages or articles might have an excessive amount of postage. Letter bombs might feel rigid or appear uneven or lopsided.

Does USPS check packages for drugs?

Postal inspectors can screen packages to check for drugs like marijuana and other substances. Some people may attempt to send drugs through the mail because they believe the Fourth Amendment protects them from having their packages searched.

Tips to help identify suspicious packages

Are USPS packages Xrayed?

Is Mail X-Rayed? Some of the mail that is sent through the United States Postal Service will pass through an X-Ray machine. There are no specific guidelines as to what may or may not be x-rayed, though mail sent to or through larger cities is likely to pass through an X-Ray machine.

Why would USPS open my package?

If there is probable cause to believe the contents of a First-Class letter or parcel violate federal law, Postal Inspectors can obtain a search warrant to open the mail piece. Other classes of mail do not contain private correspondence and therefore may be opened without a warrant.

What are the 4 C you should use when discovering a suspicious package?

When dealing with suspicious items apply the 4 Cs protocol: CONFIRM, CLEAR, COMMUNICATE AND CONTROL.

What should you do when you see a suspicious package?

Should I open a mysterious package?

Handling the Suspicious Package. Do not shake or open the package. If you believe the package may be suspicious, it is important that you do not shake, open, or empty the contents of the package. You should also avoid carrying the package or showing it to others to examine.

How do I know if my package was flagged?

What does USPS do with suspicious mail?

Postal Inspectors within the Dangerous Mail Investigations Program are specially trained to recognize the common characteristics of suspicious mail and use an array of specialized screening equipment to identify and mitigate threats to postal infrastructure, its employees, and the general public.

What is a suspicious mail?

In most cases, when discussing suspicious mail, it is mail that may contain a bomb, or a chemical, biological, radioactive or nuclear substance. It is good practice to screen mail you have received for unusual features.

When considering a suspicious package What does the term hot stand for?

Use the H.O.T. principles,

H is the item deliberately hidden, O is the item obviously suspicious, T is the item typical for the workplace but has been.

What does Hot stand for in security?

H – Has the item been Hidden? Has it deliberately been concealed? O – Is it Obviously suspicious? Does it seem odd or out of place, is there wires, liquids or batteries sticking out of it? T – Is it Typical for the location?

Can USPS ask what's in my package?

When you bring your mail to the post office, employees will ask if there are any liquids, flammable, or hazardous material inside the package. It's your responsibility to make sure anything you mail complies with what's allowed. Each local post office has an area where non-mailable items are detained.

What do Postal Inspectors investigate?

Postal Inspectors investigate any crime with a nexus to the mail. These crimes include mail theft, mail fraud, financial fraud, identity theft, robberies and burglaries of postal facilities, assaults and threats on postal employees, investigations of dangerous and prohibited mails, narcotics, cybercrime and much more.

Will USPS tracking says seized by law enforcement?

Once the postal inspector receives the suspected mail, they will attempt to contact the sender or recipient and, if unsuccessful, scan it as “seized by law enforcement.” The scan is visible in the Postal Service's tracking system to the sender and recipient as well as postal personnel.

Does USPS have drug sniffing dogs?

Feds use dogs to sniff out drugs in mail packages. New weapon in fight against opioid epidemic; Matt Finn reports from Chicago. CHICAGO – Some of the frontlines in preventing lethal opioids and fentanyl from getting into American communities happens to be at the United States Postal Service.

Does UPS check for drugs in packages?

Yes they do. They have a pre-employment drug screen as well as random drug testing. To be a driver at UPS you have to get a DOT physical which they drug test. It's a 5 panel and yes they temp the urine as well.

How do you mail a drug?

Under Federal law, it is illegal to mail any prescription drugs or pills. The only way around this is to register as an eligible entity approved by the DEA. If your registration has been approved, then you are allowed to ship the prescription drugs through the mail.

What are the characteristics of suspicious mail?

Does USPS scan packages before delivery?

Carriers are supposed to scan a package at the delivery location after either delivering or attempting to deliver the package. This scan “stops the clock,” indicating USPS has met its delivery commitment. Anyone tracking a package would see that delivery was made or attempted.

Why would a package be intercepted?

As long as the item is not showing as out for delivery or delivered, USPS Package Intercept® will prevent delivery to the addressee. Based on your request, the item is redirected as either: Return to sender, or. At the Delivery Post Office™ as Hold for Pickup (but not to a PO Box)

What happens if you get caught mailing drugs?

At LEAST 10 years of imprisonment, and up to a 10 Million dollar fine (for first offense). At LEAST 20 years of imprisonment, and up to a 20 Millon dollar fine (for second offense). Other penalties depending on drug type and quantity transported.