POST ABOUT S. 708 INTERDICT ACT -Does This Mean That LE Can Scan Packages Without a Warrant If It's Approved?

Recently came across this article: http://www.wfmj.com/story/36607709/sherrod-brown-promotes-drug-take-back-day-in-austintown

The Democrat also has legislation called the Interdict Act, which is aimed at stopping shipments of synthetic fentanyl from entering the U.S. Under his bill, Brown says border agents could scan shipments to detect deadly opioid fentanyl and keep it from reaching Ohio communities. "They would have the equipment that they could detect fentanyl coming in. Then they seize it and make arrests of the people bringing it in," Brown said. Brown's bill is supported by Republican U.S. Senator Rob Portman, and Brown is supporting Portman's anti-drug legislation the STOP Act. The two bills work together in the battle against the current epidemic.

Here's a link to the bill itself: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/708

Does anyone know what a "chemical screening device" is or what it consists of? Can these be used without first having to obtain a warrant?


Comments


[8 Points] GrandWizardsLair:

Packages are already subject to search at Customs. This bill just wants to add more personnel to check packages and equip them with gear that will let them detect fentanyl and fent analogues on site rather than having to send suspect powders to an outside lab.


[3 Points] mymuse100:

Ever wonder how customs does so much interdiction on drug packages from foreign countries? And how do they test the substances quickly enough to deliver the package on time?

Here is at least one of the answers: the handheld FTIR / Raman scanner

This particular one (Gemini™) is made by ThermoFisher Scientific, I think. It is reportedly in use by US Customs, customs agencies in other countries, FBI, ATF, TSA, US State Dept, and various police & military units around the world. "8,500+ units deployed."

It detects illegal drugs, known research chemicals, drug precursors (even rare ones), and explosives with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) OR Raman spectroscopy.

Scans take only seconds to perform. In some cases, they don't even need to open the package, I'm guessing because there are tiny amounts of drug molecules unavoidably covering the outside of the container. (EDIT: Actually, I guessed wrong. There has to be a visual line of sight (and color) to the product, but it will detect through clear plastic & glass!) The unit is small (handheld) and checks the tiniest of particles on your package against a whole library of spectra for matches. If it matches one of the known substances in the library, they pull the pack and presumably prepare a controlled delivery. This is very likely used most often in conjunction with package profiling.

Interesting pages from the PDF about the use of this hand held scanner with real world enforcement examples:

https://www.reddit.com/r/TheeHive/comments/4d704y/customs_agencies_worldwide_are_aware_of_apaan_p2p/?utm_content=title&utm_medium=hot&utm_source=reddit&utm_name=TheeHive

Just FYI... info from a PDF I found: https://www.reddit.com/r/DarkNetMarkets/comments/4d6y4f/handheld_ftir_raman_scanners_this_is_how_customs/ Additionally... Some P2P & MDP2P precursors Raman spectra they have in a handheld scanner (APAAN, APAAN (aq.), & MDP2P methyl glycidate)

https://i.imgur.com/vKbUC20.png Dutch Police APAAN (P2P precursor) 10,000kg seizure & bust using this scanner - with this much P2P precursor, I'm not sure why there is still so little methamphetamine in Europe...

https://i.imgur.com/Rlydz3H.png


[2 Points] endedbytheknife:

http://www.cisensorsystems.com/ciss-products/verovision-mail-screener/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-NU0btn4uM

There's another one, I can't find/remeber where I saw it, but I think it was either in Germany or Austrailia. They poke a hole and use a handheld device with a probe. They stick the probe in the hole and it picks up chemical traces. Then it analyzes it and gives you a reading of what it was, similar to the yt video. It's made by Omega and I know I've seen it, just not if on here on in a video/documentary.


[2 Points] Salzinator:

I am really curious what they are allowed to constitute as probable cause to conduct a search. I recall reading under the Bush administration (or at least re-amplified by the Bush administration) there were these "exigent circumstances" that allowed or threatened for the possibility of warrantless searches if considered to have probable cause. I have yet to see any sort of case reflecting this and mail. But, 18 U.S.C. § 3061 (1976) does appear to show that postal investigators do have the power (unless I interpreted it wrong, which may also be true as I've seen countless articles and cases by USPIS claiming that they need a warrant to search.) If anybody can chime in that would be great.


[2 Points] JustAnotherGuyonDMs:

I have seen many post's about the "hole" through there pack more than a yr ago so it might of been used for sometime. Domestic id think is harder to do bc the simple # of packs everyday but theres still that chance..:/


[2 Points] notamushroomshill:

Someone is probably gonna make big money off this by selling some sort of high dollar scanner and I bet the company is connected to these senators.