[Complaint/Warning]Many vendors' packaging still easily profiled

Post motive: I find it unacceptable that ALL of the DNM mail I've received so far could have easily been profiled, even from those renowned for their stealth.

Context: The first step for LE to seize mail is establishing probable cause for a dog sniff. Probable cause is established by profiling the piece of mail; the guidelines for profiling acceptable in court are readily available online, but here is an overview (many will be familiar): - obvious odors (masking agents actual drugs) - handwritten labels - excessively taped parcel - excessive postage - mailed from drug source state - fictitious return address/fictitious inhabitant - unknown recipient at delivery address - mailed from location outside of return address zip code - parcel weight (near a known trafficking weight: kilo, qp, etc.) - bulging parcel - individual to individual mailing (vast majority is business - business, business - individual)

Any one indicator is insufficient for probable cause, but several taken together is all LE needs to get dogs involved. My point is that all the packages I've received have fulfilled several of these indicators, needlessly I believe. The return addresses have been especially problematic. To eliminate this as a profiling factor, the return name and address should be verifiable as accurate by LEO performing a first check; it could be anything, but to eliminate return address from profiling, LE should be able to verify that the address exists and the name matches the address (same for destination address).

Conclusion: Buyers do their part by providing a real name and address; I'd like to invite vendors that don't do so already, to research profiling and prepare their packages in a way that doesn't give LE probable cause to snoop. If you need to charge more for shipping, do it, we'll pay.

If a package has a typed address/business return address that can be easily verified as true, no odor, no bulging, no excessive tape, correct postage, and a return zip code matching origin Post Office, there are no grounds for probable cause through profiling to justify a dog sniff. I'm unaware of any reason why a vendor can't carefully study the profiling criteria to ensure their packaging does not meet it and thereby greatly reduce the risk of seizure or worse.

Sources: https://ecf.moed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/USA_V_LOGAN-DDN-54.PDF

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Profiling+postal+packages.-a018447923


Comments


[10 Points] GrandWizardsLair:

Hammertime used a Portland law firm's address for his return address; PDXBlack (?) used an Evangelical church's address on one of his packs. And when there was a problem with the delivery address, their mail rooms were surprised to discover somebody sending meth and heroin in their names. So surprised that they got police involved. Hammertime got busted, and ITGWRC the original customer in the second case got a knock-and-talk.

G-d save us from "Darknet Security" experts whose advice will only lead to more people getting busted.


[10 Points] None:

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[4 Points] friendofstranger:

Many eBay purchases could fit that criteria as well.

Individual to individual , bulging parcel, handwritten labels: I'm guilty on all 3 counts from legal eBay sales.

And how can they profile all of California? It has the same population as Canada for fuck's sake


[2 Points] thisisbogus:

I've never actually ordered from a vendor who had bad stealth. Maybe I'm lucky?


[2 Points] None:

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[1 Points] dnmadvocate:

part of the answer to this is that dozens of vendors on daily basis send out enough gear individually that the LEO would need entire teams devoted to each and every parcel to bust anyone... figure 10 packages with 3-5 LEO/day doing controlled delivery and its usually a lot more men involved than that.... Now mulitply that by the amount of vendors and their large volumes on a daily basis, you would need millions of leo specifically focusing on this stuff and that is simply the not case nor is it possible, not for them the actually bring prosecutions to the table. it is just not practical in any way. most cases would be dropped or never pressed, when that happens LEO tend to focus on other activities.... And generally speaking, less harm is done... Dont get me wrong the system is designed to filter all this shit out but I dont think its possible... Perhaps every bit of information is a lie, no one really knows that there are really 100billion people on this planet not 7..... But you will never know the truth...


[1 Points] None:

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[1 Points] friendofstranger:

It is better to use a fake address than a real address , but not an obviously fake address.

When I worked at the post office, a clever method I saw some people using, is using a real building address, with a fake unit number.

For example, a building with only 3 floors, addressed to unit 405, or an apartment building that only goes to floor #18, addressed to unit 1905. Keep in mind there is usually no #13 floor, so another method is to address it to a unit number on floor #13 like #1305


[1 Points] None:

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[1 Points] None:

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[0 Points] None:

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