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Discussion => Shipping => Topic started by: sofish89 on April 04, 2013, 12:07 pm

Title: UPS cooperating with DEA, FedEX is NOT
Post by: sofish89 on April 04, 2013, 12:07 pm
I ran into this story, thought it would be interesting for anybody who uses UPS to mail drugs..

http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2013/mar/29/dea_targets_fedex_ups_online_pha

Charged with cracking down on the diversion of prescription drugs, the DEA has pursed doctors, pharmacists, pharmacy chains, and wholesale drug suppliers. It has now turned a baleful eye on shipping companies as well, with differing results -- at least so far.

The Orlando Sentinel reported Tuesday that both UPS and FedEx had admitted in corporate filings that they were the targets of DEA probes into packages of pills shipped from online pharmacies. Prescriptions filled by online pharmacies are illegal if there is not a real doctor-patient relationship, and the DEA maintains that prescriptions written by "cyber doctors" relying on online questionnaires are not legal.

FedEx has strongly pushed back against the DEA probe, but UPS has now buckled under the pressure. In a Friday statement, the DEA announced that UPS had agreed to forfeit $40 million it had been paid for shipments by online pharmacies and to enter into a "compliance program" to ensure online pharmacies can't use its services. The deal was part of a non-prosecution agreement the shipper signed with federal prosecutors in Northern California.

DEA accused UPS of knowingly shipping the illegally-prescribed drugs between 2003 and 2010 because "it was on notice, through some employees" that such activities were occurring. DEA also accused UPS of failing to do anything about it.

"DEA is aggressively targeting the diversion of controlled substances, as well as those who facilitate their unlawful distribution," said DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart. "This investigation is significant and DEA applauds UPS for working to strengthen and enhance its practices in order to prevent future drug diversion."

FedEx may prove a tougher nut to crack. Officials there called the federal probe "absurd and disturbing" and said it threatened customer privacy. They also accused the DEA of failing to cooperate with them in efforts to resolve the problem.

"We are a transportation company -- we are not law enforcement, we are not doctors and we are not pharmacists," FedEx spokesman Patrick Fitzgerald said in a prepared statement. "We have no interest in violating the privacy of our customers by opening and inspecting their packages in an attempt to determine the legality of the contents. We stand ready and willing to support and assist law enforcement. We cannot, however, do their jobs for them."

FedEx complained that rather than working with the shipping industry to come up with solutions, the Justice Department appeared focused on finding ways to prosecute shippers.

"This is unwarranted by law and a dangerous distraction at a time when the purported illegal activity by these pharmacies continues," Fitzgerald said

FedEx has been a major campaign contributor to US Rep. John Mica (R-FL), whom the Sentinel reported had sent a letter to Leonhart and Attorney General Eric Holder asking them to recognize "the difficulty and unfairness of requiring those carriers to assume responsibility for the legality and validity of the contents of the millions of sealed packages that they pick up and deliver ever day."

Mica told the Sentinel that while he is "concerned about prescription drugs," it was inefficient to try to turn shipping companies into drug policy enforcers. "You can't stop commerce; you can't open every package," Mica said. "I'm only asking them for a reasonable approach."

But it doesn't appear that DEA and the Justice Department see things the same way as Rep. Mica does.
San Francisco, CA
United States
Title: Re: UPS cooperating with DEA, FedEX is NOT
Post by: railroadbill on April 04, 2013, 09:46 pm
Just like the banks taking drug money the shipping companies take it and play stupid and it never works. If someone walks into your shop and asks you if your camping torches are good for smoking meth you have to ask them to leave, this is no different.
Title: Re: UPS cooperating with DEA, FedEX is NOT
Post by: jackofspades on April 05, 2013, 05:57 pm
GO FedEx!

Boo UPS

Title: Re: UPS cooperating with DEA, FedEX is NOT
Post by: divinechemicals on April 05, 2013, 08:28 pm
Ugh, I fucking hate the drug war, it truly makes me livid. Let's compare two people:

You are a lowly college student. You get an oz of MDMA shipped to your door. It gets found and you are arrested. Have fun spending a couple of years in prison kiddo!

You are the wealthy CEO of UPS. You know that your company is shipping illegal drugs and you turn a blind eye. How long do you think you're going to prison for? Hahahahaha... hilarious.

And of course everyone knows the whole HSBC drug clusterfuck. I fucking hate the US government and their so-called "war." Every time I hear that a federal agent is killed, I'm not going to lie, I feel a little bit of happiness. Yes I know that that is a human life, but that human life would happily throw some poor kid in jail for life because he wants to sell his friends ecstasy. I don't get it...
Title: Re: UPS cooperating with DEA, FedEX is NOT
Post by: masterblaster on April 05, 2013, 08:35 pm
Ugh, I fucking hate the drug war, it truly makes me livid. Let's compare two people:

You are a lowly college student. You get an oz of MDMA shipped to your door. It gets found and you are arrested. Have fun spending a couple of years in prison kiddo!

You are the wealthy CEO of UPS. You know that your company is shipping illegal drugs and you turn a blind eye. How long do you think you're going to prison for? Hahahahaha... hilarious.

And of course everyone knows the whole HSBC drug clusterfuck. I fucking hate the US government and their so-called "war." Every time I hear that a federal agent is killed, I'm not going to lie, I feel a little bit of happiness. Yes I know that that is a human life, but that human life would happily throw some poor kid in jail for life because he wants to sell his friends ecstasy. I don't get it...

A federal agent is a life the same as a weed is a plant, both gotta go.
Title: Re: UPS cooperating with DEA, FedEX is NOT
Post by: nameviolated on April 06, 2013, 06:31 am
I don't see why they don't legalize it and tax the fuck out of it.
Title: Re: UPS cooperating with DEA, FedEX is NOT
Post by: boosties on April 06, 2013, 10:05 pm
whats the hsbc drug clusterfuck?
Title: Re: UPS cooperating with DEA, FedEX is NOT
Post by: lelmeriodici on April 07, 2013, 04:10 am
Outrageous HSBC Settlement Proves the Drug War is a Joke
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/outrageous-hsbc-settlement-proves-the-drug-war-is-a-joke-20121213

Report: HSBC allowed money laundering that likely funded terror, drugs
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/report-hsbc-allowed-money-laundering-likely-funded-terror-drugs-889170
Title: Re: UPS cooperating with DEA, FedEX is NOT
Post by: mollyfan on April 07, 2013, 06:44 am
go fuckin figure! UPS has ALWAYS been dirty as fuck! even when i ship LEGAL packages, i chose not to use UPS... its always one thing after another with them...

either they lose ur package, it gets damaged and they say its not them, or they say 3-5 business days and it takes damn near 2 weeks... i cant stand UPS OR USPS!

right on FedEX! give em hell!
Title: Re: UPS cooperating with DEA, FedEX is NOT
Post by: curtnz on April 17, 2013, 05:04 am
i fucking hate fedex though for things ive bought they always said they came to my house and it was failed delivery so i had to go to a fedex and get my own stuff ups just usually leaves it at my front door