For USA domestic, what is the point of a decoy in stealth?

When I read a review for USA domestic DNM drugs and stealth points are deducted for lack of decoy, I'm wondering why? What is the point of a decoy in domestic stealth anyways? For xray purposes? Are USPS parcels being routinely X-rayed like international mail?

And for drugs OTHER THAN cocaine, methamphetamine (&methamp analogs), MDMA (&MDMA, analogs), heroin, and cannabis I am seeing points being taken off for lack of decoy in stealth also, which is even more unnecessary IMO.

To get a warrant to open a package LE must establish probable cause or reasonable suspicion. According to every controlled delivery that's been made public this has been done either one of two ways: a snitch alert LE to a pack, or a dog alerted (or was commanded by handler to alert ) to a suspicious pack. Drug dogs are trained to alert on coke, meth, cannabis, MDMA, and heroin...that is IT.

So what is the point of a decoy, especially for drugs other than the above for domestic post? What purpose does the decoy serve in domestic mail?


Comments


[12 Points] GrandWizardsLair:

The Grand Wizard has found that the people who are most concerned with "decoys" are generally trying to get drugs past their parents.


[6 Points] NASBNJ1992:

It's commonplace for packages to get torn open in transit, and if a small bag of class A drugs happens to fall out of the package because the sorter fucked up, well, you can imagine what happens. Also it's a good tool to give buyers peace of mind. I don't think it's necessarily necessary, but I received an order that was packaged with two packages, so if torn open there would still be another layer. That seemed adequate to me.


[3 Points] MLP_is_my_OPSEC:

Why is that an issue? Better safe than sorry.


[1 Points] whichkraft:

If a package has a decoy, then if someone other than the intended recipient opened it (roommate, neighbor getting the package, or like NASBNJ1992 said a postal worker), they wouldn't know it contained an illegal substance unless they took the time to really dig through the contents and test the product inside. It's not the most likely thing to happen, but it still happens.

For K9 units, the product being in a vacuum-sealed bag with one-two sterilized MBB layers is sufficient.


[1 Points] Theeconomist1:

Well, decoys aren't all that important IMO. I wouldn't deduct on a review if a vendor didn't use a decoy but I would prefer one. A decoy doesn't really offer much additional protection in terms of LE. A decoy is more geared towards protecting from nosy eyes. Or, say a package gets misdelivered, I'd much rather have a decoy than no decoy if the other person opens it (so I guess in that sense, it does help b/c it could prevent the unintended recipient from seeing what the pack actually is). That being said, every pack should ahve some protection mechanism so that the drug is not visible should the envelope get compromised (torn, ripped, etc) in transit. This could be another envelope. Anything. Just something so that there is at least one additional layer of protection. My expectation for my DoC (Norco) is that the vendor at least pack the pills in a bag (preferably vacuum sealed, but not neccesary, BUT it does need to ensure the pills don't get lose), that baggie get put in an envelope (something fairly strong, like a thick manilla envelope) and then that can go in the priority envelope. That way, if the main envelope is torn opened, the contents aren't obvious.

I do like decoys just in case the pack gets delivered to my neighbor and they open it. If they see some random trinket in there, they'll stop at that point, re-check the label, and probably give it to you (assuming you have trustworthy neighbors of course). Also, if you SO doesn't know you order from the DNMs, it offers some protection should they open it.

But you are right, with the exception of a misdelivery, a decoy doesn't offer protection against LE. If LE gets a warrant to open it, they'll find it. If they xray it, they'll find it. First and foremost, stealth needs to protect the product from detection as much as possible - this means for smelly drugs, there needs to be barriers against the smell. Stealth needs to be resistant to tears and it simply needs to hide the item should the outer envelope get torn or ripped open (it doesn't have a to be a decoy, liek I said, it could be another envelope, just something so there is at least an additional visual barrier). Each drug probably presents its own unique challenges and dictates how the packing should be. But in my book, a decoy is not necessary, but its nice add-on.


[1 Points] None:

Well one time my mom got suspicious of the strange mail i was getting and requested I open it in front of her. Problem was that the vendor didn't use any sort of decoy. I only avoided getting caught because I distracted her and did a quick sleight of hand trick so she believed the envelope was empty. Good Stealth is useful for more than just LE.


[1 Points] noonehear:

It isn't hard to add a decoy. For powders just a bunch of paperwork folded up that looks like a contract or something will work. IF I were a vendor I'd go to garage sales / flea markets and buy random cheap books and toys to use as a decoy.


[0 Points] None:

Just to be safe