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Discussion => Shipping => Topic started by: jimcarrey222 on February 24, 2012, 01:08 am

Title: USPS stats and postal crimes
Post by: jimcarrey222 on February 24, 2012, 01:08 am
http://about.usps.com/future-postal-service/postalfacts-2011.pdf
This first document give an idea of the volume of mail handled by usps. an interesting read.


https://www.hsdl.org/?search=&page=1&all=postal

+crimes&searchfield=&collection=limited&submitted=Search

law enforcementgyide to postal crimes

This site is the homeland security digital library. The first publication is "Law enforcement guide to postal crimes" though a bit dated the information is worth a read if one is curious about the manner of handling postal crimes.
"Because so many search warrants for U.S. Mail are requested from various
law enforcement agencies, Title 39 USC Section 3623 (d) requires that only
search warrants authorized by law be honored, and only federal search
warrants are authorized. Due to disparate state laws, state warrants place a
severe burden on the Postal Service system and the mailers who use it."


there are several more publications on the site that may hold even more nuggets of info.

Title: Re: USPS stats and postal crimes
Post by: tordemon on February 24, 2012, 02:58 am
So, wait, that's saying that for the mail to be confiscated domestically they have to get a Federal Warrant, that lower-level warrants are invalid with mail?
Title: Re: USPS stats and postal crimes
Post by: jimcarrey222 on February 24, 2012, 04:06 am
this is from page 20 of the law enforcement document

"A federal search warrant is required to open U.S. Mail. When a state
narcotics violation also violates federal law, Postal Inspectors may be able
to help you develop the probable cause needed to obtain the federal
search warrant. Once mail is seized, the contents may be tested to verify
its illegal nature prior to delivery.
If mail contains a sufficient quantity of illegal drugs, Postal Inspectors may
be able to assist local police in the delivery of the parcel. This assistance
may include providing a Postal Inspector dressed as a Postal Service letter
carrier, placing electronic beepers in the mail, and obtaining any Karo
search warrant necessary in the circumstances (United States v. Karo, et al.
1984, deals with monitoring a beeper in a private residence).
The Inspection Service may also be able to assist in interdicting illegal
drugs originating from either foreign or domestic sources that enter a major
Postal Service facility to be processed for delivery. This help includes
working with narcotics-trained canines from your department in a mail
screening and profiling program for illegal drugs."

then page 31

This restriction is contained in the U.S. Constitution, which grants exclusive
authority over the U.S. Mail to the federal government. Federal search
warrant authority under the Constitution was first enacted into law by the
U.S. Congress in the Espionage Act of 1917. ...
State search warrants cannot be accepted under any circumstances. If you
present such a warrant at a Postal Service facility, the manager in charge
of the facility is not authorized to release any mail to you. For further
information, contact the Postal Inspection Service, which may be able to
assist you in obtaining a federal search warrant, if the violation of state law
you are investigating is also a violation of federal law. While you are
seeking our guidance or while we are applying for and obtaining a federal
search warrant, the mail in question may be temporarily detained for a
reasonable time.


So i believe the answer to your question is yes.

The same document (dated 2004) states there are approx. 1100 postal inspectors and they are employed at 5 mail centers nation wide.

The first document adds this


67 billion — revenue in 2010, in dollars
171 billion — number of mailpieces processed in 2010
563 million — average number of mailpieces processed each day
23 million — average number of mailpieces processed each hour
391,000— average number of mailpieces processed each minute
6,516 — average number of mailpieces processed each second
40 — percentage of the world’s card and letter mail volume handled by the U.S. Postal Service

add to that most of this mail is handled by machines and it looks as though a postal inspector would be hard pressed to catch any significant portion of illegal items sent via usps.